Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. If you wish to follow along today, turn to the 65th Psalm, Psalm 65. And I welcome you to today's broadcast. Listen as I read my text. Psalm 65 in just one verse. A truly glorious God-honoring thing. Psalm 65, verse four.

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest. and calls us to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts. We shall be satisfied that we is the one God chooses and calls us to approach. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

Now, in these brief words, just as I said, it's just one verse. In these glorious words, is a summary of the free and reigning grace of God in Christ. I say, in Christ, in light of the last part of the verse, because the man whom God chooses and calls us to approach unto God, you see, that's the way it always works. It's not just the way it sometimes works, it's the way it always works. It's the way God always works. It may not be the way religion works, but it's the way God always works. God chose, and according to the book of God, he chose even before the world began. But the blessed is the man that God chooses and calls us to approach unto him.

And I say it's in Christ in this last part of these verses, because the man whom God chooses and calls us to approach God, that man may what? Dwell in thy courts. We shall be satisfied. You see, it's satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. And you say, well, preacher, you're saying that refers to Christ? I am saying that refers to Christ. It's talking about him.

Now, yes, there is a reference to that old temple, the old courts, that old house, but those things pictured Christ. They pointed toward Christ. And the scripture is clear about this. We dwell in His courts. We worship in our field with Him, with God in Christ in that holy temple. It's Him. Those courts in that holy temple pointed to Jesus Christ who was to come.

Listen to what the writer of Hebrews wrote. Just a few verses. Now, you can go back later and look at the context, but mark these down if you're following along, but mark these down and read the context so that you know I'm not trying to pull something over on you. I'm just giving you what thus saith the Lord. These things pointed to Christ. They typified Christ. They pictured Christ. They figured Christ. Listen to Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 5.

Speaking about the earthly service of priests and the tabernacle all of that thing verse 5 says who serve Unto the example and shadow of heavenly things you see it. That's what those things Pictured or shadowed something else something heavenly that heavenly is Jesus Christ as we will see in more detail a moment look at it who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle. See it? The tabernacle. Later they built a temple. Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle. For see, saith he, that they'll make all things according to the pattern, the die cast. The pattern showed thee in the mount. Do you see it? Showed thee, but now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry as Christ by how much also is the mediator of a better covenant which is established upon better promises.

Christ is the real thing. He's what these things picture. Look at chapter 9 of Hebrews. In chapter 9 and verses 6-11. The holy place in the back of that tabernacle was a place called the Holy of Holies. And the high priest went in there once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people. The Holy Ghost, this signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing, which was a figure for the time then present. See it? in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him that did the surface perfect as pertaining to conscience. They were rites and ceremonies, but they pointed to someone greater, something greater. And they never took all those sacrifices, all of that obedience, never took away one sin, never made the conscience better.

Look, which stood only in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal ordinances imposed on them until the time of Reformation. But Christ, do you see it? But Christ being come and high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, not of that old tabernacle, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Do you see that? Look at verse 24, same chapter. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, that's in that tabernacle, which are figures of the true, do you see it? Which are figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Do you see that?

And also chapter 10 in verse one. Chapter 10, verse one. Remember, these things picture Christ. So when we read that he may dwell in thy courts, this is the one that God chooses, the one that God calls us to approach unto him. That he may dwell in thy courts, we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even thy holy temple. It's talking about Christ.

And in chapter 10, as I said, of Hebrews, verse one, for the law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, which can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year, continually make the comers there too perfect. But he goes on to say, this was all talking about Christ, Christ, so it's Christ. In other words, Christ has been, Christ is, And Christ shall ever be the sum and substance of all acceptance before God.

Those who were chosen by God were chosen in Christ, Ephesians chapter one. Chosen in Christ. He's the sum and substance of all acceptance before God. Christ is the sum and substance of all approach to God. Christ is the sum and substance of all the worship of God in God's presence and amongst God's people. It's all Christ-centered. And God's people, those chosen by God and calls to approach unto God do so in Christ. And they're satisfied with Him. Yeah, they're satisfied with Him. They're glad to be satisfied with Him. He is all and end all. He's all they need. He's all you need. He's all I need.

You see, this is, I must even emphasize, Christ himself is the goal of God's choosing and of God's causing men to approach unto God. He's the goal, he's the one we approach unto. He's the one we're satisfied with. It's his beauties, his perfections, his glory, his majesty, his person, his work. That's what God's people feast upon. That's what those God chooses. Those God causes to approach. They're satisfied with Christ. He's it.

Now listen to me. Christ is the goal. He is the one we approach. He is the reason for this gracious election by God. It's right there in the text. People, I had one individual tell me that his wife said, well, that election, that's not in the Bible. And I asked him, I said, so she's a Bible reader, is she? He said, well, no, she don't even read the Bible. This book is replete with it. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causeth to approach unto thee. It's all God.

Now this, what I'm talking about is the difference between truth and downright heresy. It's the difference between truth and downright blasphemy against God. Christ is the goal. Christ is the one we approach. Christ is the reason for the gracious election. According to Isaiah the prophet, Christ is the elect one. He's the only person ever chosen based on his merits. Those who are chosen by God, the fallen sons and daughters of God, are chosen based upon Christ's merits, not any merits in them. They have none. They have none.

Here's my subject for this morning. Here's my subject, and this is my title. Chosen and Caused to Approach Christ. Chosen and Caused to Approach Christ. Let's consider seven thoughts about this text. Seven thoughts.

You see, first of all, in this thing of salvation, in this thing of approaching God, God must take the initiative. You hear what I said? I said God must take the initiative. It is not, as I have heard some say and people are still saying today, God's done all he can do, now it's up to you. No, sir. Blessed is the man whom God chooses and whom God calls us to approach unto God. That's what it is. God must take the initiative.

Here's why, here's one reason why. Romans chapter three, verse 11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Do you see that? Do you hear that? There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. N-O-N-E. None. None.

Listen to Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 64, and listen to how Isaiah puts it. This is astounding language. Isaiah chapter 64, a couple verses. Verse six. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. That means menses, close. Are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf. You know what a leaf does fades? It just crumbles up into powder, into dust. just shy of nothingness. We all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

But it's even worse than that. Listen. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee. This is what God says about us, whether we think that or not. Oh, that he might show us that. You see it? And there is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee, for thou hast hid thy face from us and hast consumed us because of our iniquities. I am telling you from our text, God must take the initiative. According to our text, here's number two. Had God not chosen some to approach, none would ever approach. You hear what I said? Romans chapter nine. Had God not chosen some to approach, none would ever approach. Romans chapter nine, verse 29. And as Esaias, or that is Isaiah, said before, except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom and been like unto Gomorrah. You see that? That seed is what? Verse 27, 28, a remnant. It's a remnant according to Paul in Romans 11 here, and in verse five and six, it's a remnant according to the election of grace. God chose by grace, not by forethought of us doing something we didn't understand and we didn't seek after God. God must take the initiative.

Had God not chosen some to approach, none would ever approach, number three. Our inability is the problem. You hear what I said? I said our inability is the problem. John chapter six, I'll read it to you. Our inability is the problem. God himself is the only solution. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and calls us to approach him today. Somebody says, my preacher doesn't preach that. Then I'd get away from him and that so-called church. I'd go somewhere where you know a man is preaching, blessed is the man whom God chooses and whom God calls us to approach. We'll rejoice in Christ and be satisfied with him.

Remember, God must take the initiative. Had God not chosen some to approach, none would ever approach. And as I said, our inability is the problem, God himself is the only solution. John chapter six, verse 44 and 45, the Lord himself, Jesus Christ of Nazareth himself, the master himself said these words, no man can come to me except the father which has sent me draw him. Now that's either God, he can and God keeps him from it, or he can't and God's got to do it for him. That's one or the other, it can't be both. No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. And what is this drawing? Look it. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Who? The one God chooses. The one God chooses. And they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father comes to me. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causes to approach unto thee.

But number four, number four, now, I will stay right here in John chapter six for a few moments. Remember what I said. God must take the initiative. God must take the initiative. Had God not chosen some to approach, none would ever approach. That's just the way, they might be religious, they might make professions, they might walk aisles, they might pray prayers, they might sing songs, they might be baptized, they might do all those things, but they're not gonna approach God in Christ Jesus. They will not submit to him as all that satisfies both God and them. And our inability is the problem. No man can come except God does something.

But fourthly, today, just like in our Lord's day, Some reject this. That's right. Some reject this. I know the majority rejects this. But look at what our Lord said, same message, same place. John chapter six, here's what John records in verse 59. Move on down just a little to verse 59. These things said he that is Christ in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples when they heard This said, this is a hard saying, who can hear it? When he said it, no man can come. He said, you gotta eat my flesh and drink my blood. And they heard that and they said, this is a hard saying, who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured, and notice they're even called disciples, they murmured at him, he said to them, does this offend you? I ask you the same question. When you read from the scripture, blessed is the man whom God chooses and whom God calls us to approach. He's the one that's gonna be satisfied with the goodness of Jesus Christ.

Then, when Jesus knew it himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said, and then, does this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth, do you see it? It's the spirit that quickeneth the flesh, that is what you are, what I am. what you are. It is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh, profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. Do you see that? For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him. And he said, therefore said I unto you, watch, watch what he's going to repeat now. Therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my father. That's what Christ said, that's the way it is. That's the way it is. From that, and you notice if you're reading, it says it's a time, it's certainly a part of it, but it's not, it's from that, from that statement, not from that time. It was a time, he said it, but from that, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. You see it? And like I said, today, just like at our Lord's Day, some reject this, they do. I understand that. And if they reject, just let them reject. Let them reject. If the blind lead the blind, they'll both fall in the ditch.

The disciples one time told the Lord about something he'd said. They said the disciples were offended by that. He said, well, just let them alone. Just let them alone.

But here's number five. Here's number five. But those chosen, still in John 6, but those chosen, Those whom God has caused to approach Christ It's a little different now remember some people heard this and from that When he said therefore said unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my father From that many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him then said Jesus unto the twelve I want you to think about this. He didn't wait for Someone else to bring this up then said Jesus unto the twelve will ye also go away You're gonna leave too. What about you? Is this hard to you? Do you reject this? Do you say no, I won't have that. No, I don't believe that. That's not the way I believe It's not the way my church believes. It's not the way my preacher believes. That's not the way I believe

Well, Jesus said will you also go away? Then Simon Peter, listen, then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words, remember? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure. Do you see it there? Satisfaction. And you don't have to be sure to believe. You believe, and you believe him, therefore you're sure. You see it? And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus answered them, have not I chosen you 12? And one of you is a devil. You see, Judas had been chosen, But he had not truly approached unto Christ and been satisfied with him. It's clear that he sold him out for 30 pieces of silver. Now that was a lot of money in that day. But it was not a multi-millionaire kind of money. Sold him out for 30 pieces of silver.

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and callseth. Do you see it? And callseth. to approach unto thee. I love that. I love that. He spake, this he spake of, verse 71, he spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

So remember, God must take the initiative. Remember, had God not chosen some to approach, not just chosen, but chosen to approach, None would ever approach. That includes me or you. He had to choose us and not just choose us, but choose us and calls us to approach. Our inability is the problem. God himself is the only solution. And it's just, it's the same today. Men are no better today. They don't love it. Men by nature don't love this truth any more today than they ever did. They hate it. They hate it. A person can say they believe on Christ, that have submitted to Christ. You start talking to them about God's election and God's work of bringing a man to Jesus Christ, and they'll get mad and leave. They'll say, I don't believe that. Well, go on your way. But if you know Jesus has the words of eternal life, you'll believe whatever he says, no matter how difficult it may be.

Here's number six. Here's number six. Now I'm gonna turn now to Ephesians chapter one. If you're following along, turn to Ephesians chapter one.

Election, that is choosing. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest. Election is not some decree of blind fate. No, it's not some decree of blind fate, but it is God's wise purpose that some would be caused to come to Christ, to believe Christ, and enjoy and be satisfied with the goodness and the fatness of Jesus Christ himself.

Listen to Ephesians chapter one. Let's begin in verse three. Blessed Blessed you see when Paul talks to this subject. He's about to approach here. He's about to about to bring the light here He said he blesses God in it you see it blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who have blessed us with all spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ? You see it chose us were in Christ not in ourselves not in what we would do but in what Christ would do heavenly places in Christ, 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, even before God in love.

Look, having predestinated us not to heaven or hell, that's not what it says. That's not what true gospel preachers preach. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children. These people chosen were also predestinated to be ushered in as the full-fledged sons or children of God, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself. Do you see that? He's got to do the work. He gotta do the work. By Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he made us accepted in the beloved in Christ, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, wherein he hath abounded toward us all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself.

that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth, even in him, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ.

in whom we also trusted after that you heard the word of truth, the good news, the gospel of your salvation, in whom after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession under the praise of his glory.

Blessed, truly I can say with the psalmist David himself, blessed is the man whom thou choosest and calls us to approach unto thee. You see, here's number seven. God gets all the glory because it took God. It still takes God, and it will always take God, who must be active in all. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and callsest to approach unto thee.

This is clear from Ephesians 2, verses 8, 9, and 10. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are his workmanship created. Created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

Philippians chapter 2 and 13 for it is God that worketh in you both the will and the Do of his good pleasure remember what I said God must take the initiative Remember what I said God had God not chosen some to approach none would ever Our inability is our problem. God himself and God alone is the only solution.

Today men are just like they were back in our Lord's day. Some people reject this, but those chosen, those whom God has called to approach unto Christ, they submit to the truth of God's word. They don't sit around and argue about this. They're glad. They love it. They love it. God gets all the glory. All the praise goes to God. Did you know that? Listen to the way Paul put it.

1 Corinthians chapter 1, he put it this way. 1 Corinthians chapter 1. My time's running out, but listen, 1 Corinthians 1, 26, for you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and the base things of the world, and the things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and the things which are not to bring to naught the things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence, but of him, are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God has made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Truly the psalmist was right. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causeth to approach unto thee.