Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, located at 2709 Rock Springs Road in Kingsport, Tennessee, would like to invite you to listen to a message of sovereign grace by their pastor, Gabe Stoniker. For information and service times, visit www.ksgc.church. And now, Gabe Stoniker.

I would like to invite you to follow along with me today in Hebrews chapter 11. I will be speaking from Hebrews chapter 11. Wonderful chapter. This is such a wonderful portion of scripture. It begins by mentioning some different names. In verse 4, it mentions the name Abel. In verse 5, it mentions a man named Enoch. Verse 7 mentions Noah. Verse 8 mentions Abraham. Verse 9 mentions Isaac and Jacob. Verse 11 mentions Sarah. Verse 12, through Isaac, mentions a number of brethren, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable.

All of God's people That's who this is talking about. All of God's chosen people. God has a chosen people. God, the Father, elected a people to save. And that's who this is referring to. All of those people. And a number no man can number. Thank God, God can number them. And God has numbered them. all of God's people.

Now, verse 13, Hebrews 11, verse 13 says, these all died in faith, all of them. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them, and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. That's what all of God's people have or will confess concerning their relationship to this world.

God, through time, he sends his gospel message and he causes his people to hear it and it pricks their ears to it and they say, oh, I've never heard that before. And all of a sudden they see Christ, they see the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary and they believe. They see the promises of the word and they believe. And as he calls his people out, all of them start to realize, this is not my continuing home. This is what all of God's people say. This is what they all confess concerning their relationship to this world.

All of God's people see themselves as being strangers and pilgrims on the earth. And why do they all say that? And why do they all see themselves to be that way? Verse 14 says, for they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. You say, well, aren't you in a country? Yes, but not the one I'm longing to be in. not the one I'm truly longing to be in. You say, aren't you standing on an earth already? Yes, but not the one I'm waiting to be standing on.

Verse 14 says, For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country. That means left to themselves, they would have just stayed in their sinful, wicked way and world. But God did something for them. But now they desire a better country, that is, in heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city."

Our Lord said in John 14, he said to all of his chosen, redeemed, blood-bought, called people, He said, I go to prepare a place for you. Revelation 21 calls it New Jerusalem, the holy city. The Holy City. You know they call Las Vegas Sin City. That's the that's the slang nickname for Las Vegas Sin City. Well you know we live in Sin City too. Kingsport Tennessee is Sin City just like Las Vegas is. It's not the only Sin City. Every city on this earth is Sin City. Why? Because sinners dwell there. Sin is committed there.

But in 2 Peter 3 it says there is a place that the Lord Jesus Christ has created and it's a new earth with new heavens and there is no sin there. That's reality. There is no sin there, only righteousness.

ONLY RIGHTEOUSNESS. IT IS TRULY A RIGHTEOUS CITY. THAT'S WHAT ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE WILL SAY IN THAT DAY. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I LIVE IN RIGHTEOUS CITY. ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET TO SAY THAT VERY SOON.

Our Lord said it is a place, it's a city, where animals do not hurt each other. You can read through the book of Isaiah and see this. It's said in a few different places. To say it once is enough, but our Lord repeated this. He said this is a place where animals do not hurt each other. Everybody gets along. That would be nice, wouldn't it? Nobody is sad. No one. No one cries. Nobody feels lonely. No one feels guilty. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Do you ever experience guilt? I do. Why? Sin.

But in a place where there is no sin, No one feels guilty. No one feels angry. Nothing will ever happen to make you angry. No one feels sick. No one feels weak. Everyone feels joy. Every person there. Everyone is happy. Everyone is content. Everyone is at ease. Finally enjoying rest from all of their labors as God has rested from his.

Why? Why do they feel that way? Why is that the case? It's because Christ is there. It's because the Lord Jesus is Christ. And it's because Christ is all there to everyone. Everyone there sees him as being all. Everyone is happy with him, in him. Everyone is content to have him.

Once a child of God is persuaded of Christ, the object, the beauty, the glory, the person, the finished work, the accomplishment, the success of Christ. Once a child of God is caused to get rid of all of his own works before God and cling to the cross of Jesus Christ. the finished payment of sin that he made for them. Once a child of God is caused to embrace that and understand it, to believe it, to embrace it, to desire it, you know, until God causes a child of God to do that, a child of God will not desire the finished work of Christ. That man or woman will want to produce his own works.

But once faith is given, like Hebrews 11 speaks of, A child of God desires that and looks for that and longs for that. And once that happens, this world right here that we're standing on is no longer that child's continuing city. It's just not. All of God's people say, this is not my home. I love Kingsport. It's my home, worldly speaking, earthly speaking, but this is not my home. This is not my home. I'm traveling through with a tent. It's what everything I have here is. It's just a tent. I'm just desiring to get from point A to point B.

As David said, I will not be satisfied until I awake with thy likeness. I will not be satisfied until I get home. Christ is my home. Christ is my city. And I'm just a stranger in a pilgrim here. That's what God's people feel about themselves, and that's what the Word of God acknowledges them to be. That's what God's Word acknowledges them to be.

Over in 1 Peter 1, 1 Peter 1 verse 1 says, an apostle of Jesus Christ." All right, who are you writing this letter to, Peter? He said, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Strangers elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit. That means the setting apart of God's Spirit. Unto what? The obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. The obedience of Christ and the blood of Christ. That means the righteousness of Christ and the death of Christ. That's what God's people are set apart to. His righteousness, His blood. Everything we need. Everything that needs to be done. Everything that needs to be settled and paid for.

Verse 2, 1 Peter 1, verse 2, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith." Looking to Christ, not works, Christ. Through faith, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

He said, I'm writing to the strangers scattered throughout who were elected according to the foreknowledge of God, elected to receive mercy in the blood of Jesus Christ. And those who are being kept through their pilgrimage, kept by the power of God until the moment comes that he calls them home. The moment that he calls them home, he will reveal to them the inheritance of glory that has been reserved for them. And that inheritance is Christ, Christ himself. Peter said, that's who I'm writing to. That's who the promise is to.

In chapter two, first Peter chapter two, verse 11, he said, dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. Strangers and pilgrims. He said, everything I'm saying to you, I'm saying it to you as the strangers and pilgrims that you are. Everything that this word has to say in the declaration of the gospel, in the declaration of good news, all of it is to the strangers and pilgrims. That's who it's to. All of it is to the souls that are passing through, just looking and hoping and waiting for that better country where Christ dwells. And this is what all of the Word has to say to them. This is what God's Word says to all of those strangers and pilgrims.

Ephesians 2, if you're following along with me, you can turn to Ephesians 2, verse 1 says, and you, that's who he's writing to, you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, that's the adversary. the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation. In times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, This all started with God. Had it not been for God, we would have just stayed right here in this world, loving this world, living for, living in this world. Sin, that's where he would have left us, but God.

WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, FOR HIS GREAT LOVE WERE WITH HE LOVED US, EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS, HATH QUICKENED US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST. BY GRACE YOU ARE SAVED." BY THE FREE GIFT OF GOD, BY THE FREE LOVE AND WILL AND PURPOSE OF GOD, HE SAVED HIS STRANGERS, HIS PILGRIMS. VERSE 6 SAYS, AND HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS.

that in the ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. That's what eternity will be. Riches of grace, riches of mercy, riches of kindness, all of it toward us through Christ, in Christ.

Verse eight says, for by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it's the gift of God. not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." That's what eternity will be, good works. That's why no one will get angry and everyone will be happy and at peace. It's going to be nothing but good.

WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM. THAT'S HOW WE WILL WALK FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.

WHEREFORE REMEMBER THAT YOU BEING IN TIME PAST GENTILES IN THE FLESH WHO ARE CALLED UNCIRCUMCISIONED BY THAT WHICH IS CALLED THE CIRCUMCISION IN THE FLESH MADE BY HANDS. THAT MEANS HEATHENS. HE SAID THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE, THAT'S WHAT I WAS, A HEATHEN.

a heathen, an outcast. Verse 12, that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Sounds awful, doesn't it? That's what God's people feel about themselves in this world.

in their flesh. That's what they feel their natural condition is before God. That's what they feel they deserve before God. God's people know that's what their sin has done to them. God's people know that. That's what their sin has left them with as they are right now in this flesh, in this world. Strangers, pilgrims, aliens, outcasts to God.

But to every soul who feels this way, this is what the gospel has to say to that soul. Verse 13 says, but now in Christ Jesus, that's where all our hope is. It's all in Christ Jesus. But now in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

by the blood of Jesus Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments, contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one new man." Here's what that means.

The law of God said, you're an outcast, you're a stranger, and it's all because of your sin. But Christ came and bore the sins of his people. He took all of the sins of his people and bore them in his body on the tree. And he stood in their place before God. And God looked on him and saw all the sins of his people and condemned Christ. In his body he was slain. And God was satisfied. and Christ made peace on behalf of his people.

Verse 15 says, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, that means they were the enemies of God and Christ put it away. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances for to make in himself of twain one new man. He joined himself to his people, joined his people to himself, so making peace.

and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." and came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh. The only way we can preach peace is if we preach Christ. The substitution of Christ for his people, the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary for his people, the blood of Christ, the righteousness of Christ, everything Christ did. He is the message of peace. He is our peace.

Verse 17 says, And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God.

He said you're no more strangers and foreigners to God, YOU WERE STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS TO GOD IN YOUR OWN CONDITION, BUT GOD DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND IN WHAT HE DID FOR YOU, YOU'RE NOT STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS TO GOD ANYMORE.

Verse 19, NOW THEREFORE YOU ARE NO MORE STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS, BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS AND OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, AND ARE BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. IN WHOM ALL THE BUILDING, FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER, GROWETH UNTO AN HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD, IN WHOM YOU ALSO ARE BUILDED TOGETHER FOR A HABITATION OF GOD THROUGH THE SPIRIT.

IN CHRIST, ALL OF IT IN CHRIST. THE GOSPEL CHRIST. THIS IS THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. IN CHRIST, IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, YOU'VE BEEN MADE TO BE FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS AND OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD. strangers, foreigners, pilgrims to this earth. What once was home to us, we were of the world, earthy. This was our home. Strangers, foreigners to God, but now in Christ Jesus, a change has been made. And we're fellow citizens of the household of God, and strangers and pilgrims to this world. That's good news.

John 17. Verse four, it says, our Lord praying to his Father said, I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word.

Verse 9, he said, I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine. All mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I'm glorified in them. And now I'm no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are.

Verse 14, he said, I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I'm not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them, that means set them apart. Set them apart. From what? The world. Sanctify them through the truth. What's the truth? Christ is the truth. He said, thy word is the truth.

Verse 22, he said, in the glory which thou gavest me, I've given them that they may be one even as we are one. I in them, thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. And that the world may know that thou has sent me and has loved them as thou has lovest me. Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which Thou hast given me, for Thou lovest me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee, but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent me. and I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Our Lord said they are not of this world even as I am not of this world. He said, Father, keep them, keep them looking and hoping and trusting until the time comes for all of them to be gathered together with us, Father, Son, and Spirit, in our eternal home.

Keep them. Encourage them. Strengthen them. That's what God's Word does for all of His pilgrims and strangers on this earth. It keeps us. It encourages us. It strengthens us.

And I pray for any soul who God has given faith to look to Christ alone and to believe on Christ alone. I pray this message will do that for you. I pray it will strengthen you. and encourage you. I pray it will be good news for pilgrims.

That's the title of this message. Good news for pilgrims. Encouragement for pilgrims. Knowing that our God is still sitting on his throne. We have a king seated on the throne of his glorious kingdom. a kingdom he has prepared for all of his chosen people. And in Christ, he has secured our place there. And we're going to be there with him.

If God the Father said that he would redeem us, keep us, and come back to get us, and Christ has redeemed us and Christ is keeping us, Christ will come back to get us. AND HE WILL TAKE US TO OUR ETERNAL HOME WITH HIM. AND I DO PRAY THAT THAT WILL BE A REAL COMFORT TO YOU.

HE SAID, LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED. YOU BELIEVE IN GOD, YOU BELIEVE IN ME. I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

May the Lord confirm that to our hearts, and as pilgrims and strangers, cause us to look to nothing here, but to Him alone. To Him be all the glory. Amen.

You have been listening to a message by Gabe Stoniker, pastor of Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church in Kingsport, Tennessee. If you would like a copy of this message, or to hear other messages of sovereign grace, you can call or write to the number and address on your screen, or visit www.ksgc.church.

Tune in at this same time next week for another message of God's free and sovereign grace.