Five. We should know and that we probably
do know as believers. And as we study scripture, we
hear the gospel proclaimed by faithful men of God, we will
definitely hear these five words often. Almost in every message,
but often, often. And these five words are melodious
to the believer. Melodious to the believer in
Christ. Melodious to our souls. And should
fill the believer with joy. Because they point us away from
ourselves, and they point us to our great God. And they point
us to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And they show that salvation
is all of the Lord. It's all of the Lord. Now, a
couple of the words that we'll look at are probably, at least
one of them is the most hated word by religionists, but a word
that is beloved by God's sheep. And that'll actually be the first
word we'll look at tonight. And then the other words, Again, we'll be familiar with,
and Scripture has them. And they bring forth, again,
they bring forth the sovereignty of God. They point us away from
ourselves, which is what Gospel preaching does. It points us
away from ourselves and it points us to Christ and Him alone. We'll look at these five words
and hope and pray the Holy Spirit will bless them to our souls. Here are the five words, which
I hope will give us a clear understanding of them and how they pertain
to the gospel of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the Holy
Spirit teaches us and guides us. The first word, the most
hated word by religionists that I found A.W. Pink said this,
he said, this is the word that religionists absolutely hate. But God's people love. And that
word is election. Election. Now let us remember, if we take
out Christ, then there's no election, is there? See, if you remove Christ from
the gospel, there is no election. There's no gospel either, but
there's no election, is there? Because who are we electing?
Christ. So you would think that people
who profess to love Christ would love the fact that God's people
are elected, chosen, elect in Christ Jesus. But alas, their
hearts are exposed. Now election is God's sovereign,
eternal, unconditional, immutable choice to save a great multitude
of Adam's fallen race. And it's all according to his
will. It's all according to his purpose,
and it's all by his sovereign choice. And this absolutely goes
against the grain of religion, which tells you it's your decision. It's your choice. You know what? Like many preachers have said
before me, I thank God that my salvation wasn't my choice, because
you know why? I'd never choose God. That's
scriptural, isn't it? There's none that seeketh after
God. Thank God that He chose me and you who are His blood-bought
people in Christ, because otherwise we'd never come to Him. Turn,
if you would, to John 15, verse 16, and then put your finger
in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 1. God's election is His choosing
a people out of Adam's fallen race, and He did not look down
through, let's just erase this error that's proclaimed out in
the religious world, oh, God looked down through time and
saw who would choose Him, and then based His choice upon them
supposedly choosing Christ. Well, we know what that does,
doesn't it? That puts salvation in man's hands, and it takes
it away from our sovereign God. But the God of the Bible is the
one who chooses whom he wills. And it's so plainly brought out
here in John 15, verse 16, by the Master. Look what he says.
He hath not chosen me. That means what it says. And we know from measuring Scripture
with Scripture that there's none that seeketh after God, right?
So, of course they haven't chosen Him, but look at this, but I
have chosen you, John 15, 16, and ordained you that you should
go and bring forth fruit, and that fruit there is the fruit
of the Spirit. It's not something we work up at all. It's the fruit
of the Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit working
in the believer. and that your fruit should remain,
because it's from God, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in
my name, he may give it you. But note right there, ye have
not chosen me, but I have chosen you. So when Adam fell on the
garden, we all fell in him, all of humanity. And this is where
a lot of folks in religion get it wrong. And one preacher friend
of mine says, if you get it wrong with the fall, you get it wrong
with it all. That's true. That's so true. But praise be
to God that long before the fall, God chose to save a people. Hence, you have not chosen me,
but I have chosen you and ordained you. When did he do that? Beloved,
he did that in eternity. By God's determinate counsel,
and remember it's God who determines what will come to pass, by his
determinate counsel, he chose to save the people. All according to his mercy. And
you know why? Because it pleased him to do
so. Isn't that wonderful? That's wonderful. That's wonderful. Turn, if you would, to 1 Thessalonians
1, and then we'll go to Ephesians 1.4, which we, actually, I'll
read Ephesians 1.4 if you turn to 1 Thessalonians. We know Ephesians
1.4 says this, according as he has chosen us, and that word
in the Greek means to elect, it means to pick out. to choose,
select. That's what it means when Kourtney
has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Now
look at 1 Thessalonians 1, verses two to five. Again, you know,
I guess people who hate this word just must take sections
of the scriptures and just say, I don't agree with that, I don't
believe that. God's people believe what the Word says, don't we?
That's what we believe. If the Bible says it, we believe
it. We believe it. Let's see what 1 Thessalonians
1 says here, verses 2 to 5. We give thanks to God always
for you, making mention of you in our prayers. So Paul's writing
to the Thessalonians. A lot of commentators says they're
young believers. And this is the other thing,
too. Some people say, well, you should not teach young believers
about the doctrine of election. Well, Paul supposedly is writing
to young believers in the faith, and look what he says here. Remembering
without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience
of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our Father.
Look at verse four. No one, brethren, beloved, you're
what? Election of God. That means what we think it means. It means God chooses. Remember,
you have not chosen me, but I've chosen you. your election of
God. For our gospel came not unto
you in word only, so we didn't just hear it, but it came in
power, didn't it? By the power of the Holy Spirit of God. And
in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as you know what manner
of man we were among you for your sake. Now turn to Romans
chapter 9. Now the Greek word for chosen
again in Ephesians 1-4, It's a verse we all know, according
as He had chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. And
don't miss that latter part, that we should be holy and without
blame before Him in love. Sinners made holy and without
blame before God. Oh, this is marvelous. But we're
chosen in Him. Again, remember we saw this morning,
by Him, our salvation? Now here's the electing grace
of God in Ephesians 1.4 is in Him, being in Christ. Now look
at Romans 9.11. And note here, note here what's
brought out here. This choosing of God is done
by God, and it's based upon nothing in the receiver, nothing at all. It's a gift of God, not of works.
Look at this in Romans 9-11. For the children being not yet
born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose
of God, according to election, might stand not of works, but
of him that called. Jacob have I loved, and Esau
have I hated. Jacob was chosen by God. He wasn't
even born. Isn't that wonderful? It's wonderful, isn't it? For
God's people. So we marvel that we who believe
were included. We were chosen. in Christ before the foundation
of the world, knowing, brother and beloved, your election of
God, your election of God. So election is a biblical truth,
a biblical truth. The second word I'd like us to
look at, and this word's not very well liked either by folks
in religion, is predestinated. Predestinated. And I can speak from experience.
I've told you all the first time when I was in religion, and I
was lost as a white goose in the snow, so I didn't know Christ
at all. Somebody talked to me about election, and I got all
upset. And someone talked to me about
predestination, I got all upset too. But now, these doctrines,
these words, are so precious. So precious. You know, as we
read that, you have not chosen me, but I've chosen you. Know
I'm brother and beloved, your election of God. These words
are sweet. They're honey to the soul of
the believer. It's wonderful. God chose me? Oh, marvel of marvels,
eh? Wonder of wonders. So predestinated
or predestination, this is a word, again, these are words that just
are not very well liked in the religious world. But this is
a biblical word, predestinated is a biblical word. Let us remember
this too, take Christ out and there's no one's predestined. See how they all tie right in?
They all tie right in. And we're predestined to conform
to the image of the son. Who wouldn't want that? What
believer wouldn't want to be conformed to the image of Christ?
We love that, don't we? We love that. Predestination
is God's sovereign arrangement of all affairs of the universe
from eternity. His everlasting, unchangeable
determination of all things by which He secures the salvation
of His elect, adopted sons and daughters. Now, God either knows
all things or He doesn't, right? And if He doesn't know all things,
then He's not God. But He's God. He knows everything,
doesn't He? Or if you were to, Isaiah chapter
46. Isaiah chapter 46. We know from Scripture that God
is an all-knowing God. God knows the end from the beginning.
He's planned and purposed how it will all work out, beloved.
Have you ever sat and marveled at the fact that God chose you?
Have you ever just sat and marveled at that? When we look back on our life
and we know how we were before the Lord saved us, does it not
just make you marvel? That we're chosen of God and
that we're being predestinated to be conformed to the image
of the Son? Look at this in Isaiah 46, 9.
This is the God of the Bible. Remember the former things of
old, verse 9, for I am God. And look at this statement, and
there is none else. So that statement right there
just wipes out all these false gods that are promoted by people.
Wipes them right out. I am God and there's none like
me. Declaring, look at this, the end from the beginning. Goes backwards, doesn't he? And
from ancient times, the things that are not yet done, saying,
Look at this. My counsel shall stand. Now tie
that in with what we looked at on Wednesday night. I'll put
my fear into them and they will not depart from me. My beloved. What a Savior. What a Redeemer
is Jesus Christ our Lord. My counsel shall stand. And I
will do all my pleasure. And see there where it says I'll
do all my pleasure? That's in salvation and that's
in providence. God does whatever he pleases. That's the God of the Bible.
Now, the God of people's imaginations up there wringing his hands,
right? But that's not the real God of the Bible. Does this scripture
bring forth a God who is pleading and wringing his hands? Not at
all. Yet I will do all my pleasure.
This is a sovereign, almighty God. This is the God of the Bible.
Calling a ravenous bird from the east. The man that executed
my counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken it. I will
also bring it to pass. I have purposed it. I will also
do it. Look at this. Just calling a
ravenous bird from the east. Did you know that not even a
sparrow falls to the ground without our sovereign God knowing? As
I said before, there's no maverick molecules. Nothing. Everything
is under God's control. Everything. Visible and invisible. Absolutely everything. Turn, if you would, to Ephesians,
chapter 1, verse 5, and look at this. Here's this word, predestinated. Predestinated. And then we'll
turn to Romans, chapter 8. Ephesians, chapter 1, and then
Romans, chapter 8. Now this word predestinate means
to limit or mark out beforehand, to design definitely beforehand,
ordain beforehand. This is what it means in the
Greek. To limit or mark out beforehand, to design definitely beforehand,
ordain beforehand. Ephesians 1.5, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according
to the good pleasure of his will. He's marked out. limited or marked
out to design definitely beforehand, to ordain beforehand, having
predestinated us into the adoption of children. When did he do that?
In eternity. And then look at verse 11, in
whom also we have obtained an inheritance, this is speaking
of Christ, being predestinated according to the purpose of him
who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
Does that not sound like Isaiah 46.11? I will also bring it to
pass, I have purposed it, I will also do it. And then turn to Romans chapter
8. We're predestinated to the adoption by Jesus Christ, and
we're also predestinated to be conformed to the image of the
Son. In verse 5 of Ephesians, chapter
1, we saw that we were predestinated unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ, but look at this in Romans, chapter 8. For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to what? To the image of his Son. that we might be firstborn
among many brethren. So again, predestinated or predestined
is a word hated by those in religion. Now look at the wonderful benefits,
though, of predestination. Look at this in verse 30. 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. Notice it's all past tense. It's
amazing. It's absolutely amazing, isn't
it? This is why the gospel preacher gets up and preaches the gospel
with confidence. That the Lord will save whomever
He pleases. Whomever He pleases. Oh, what
a great God we have. Turn, if you would, to Acts chapter
13. Acts chapter 13. We looked at
this this morning, but I want to read this little portion here
again. Acts 13. I don't think we turned
to it this morning, but I read it. Acts 13, verses 47 to 49. God saves whomever He wills. For so hath the Lord commanded
us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that
thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And
when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified
the word of the Lord. And as many as were ordained
to eternal life, what? Believe. When were they ordained
to eternal life? When they were chosen in Christ.
It's wonderful. And the word of the Lord was
published throughout all the region. The third word I'd like
us to look at from the Bible is redemption. Redemption. Again, if you take out Christ,
what? There's no redemption, is there? There's no redemption. For anyone. For any of God's
people. Because we are redeemed by the
precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. So you take Christ away
from this word and there is absolutely no redemption. See, again, all
these precious words, they focus upon Christ. Redemption is the
ransom of chosen sinners. who were elected in Christ and
predestinated to be conformed to the image of the Son. And
we are under the curse of God's broken law and His justice, which
had been offended. And we come into the world in
that state. Now redemption is accomplished
by the sacrificial substitutionary satisfaction of God's justice
and law by the shedding of the precious blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ. And His blood absolutely delivers
us. It's a full deliverance, but
it's delivered all of God's left. And there is no possibility for
any condemnation for God's people who have been redeemed. Purchased
by the precious blood of Christ. Turn, if you would, the first
Peter chapter one. And I'll read Galatians 3.13,
which says this, Christ has redeemed us. He's purchased us, beloved,
from what? From the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us. That's the just one dying for
the unjust. For it is written, cursed is
everyone that hangeth on a tree. And remember, he did that willingly.
He willingly did this. He willingly left the glories
of heaven to become a man. Willingly. He willingly lived
that substitutionary life for us, weaving the perfect code
of righteousness that we are clothed in. He willingly went
to Calvary's cross. Scripture says his face was set
like a flint to Jerusalem, which is unmoving. Willingly. He willingly did these
things. to redeem, so that we may be
redeemed from the curse of the law. 1 Peter 1, starting in verse 18.
And remember this, that no man can be justified by the works
of the law. No man. but Christ was made a curse for
us. And look at 1 Peter 1.18, for
as much as you know that you were not redeemed or purchased
with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers, we could never redeem
ourselves. No amount of money, no amount
of work, could ever redeem our eternal souls. But look at this,
for as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible
things, the silver and gold from your vain conversation received
by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Remember in the Old Testament,
if a lamb had a blemish or a spot, it would not be accepted, right?
would not be accepted. Our Savior is the perfect, the
spotless, the unblemished Lamb of God. And look at this, who
verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
but was manifest in these last times for you. And every believer
can say like Brother Tim said, for me, for me. My. We are purchased and delivered
by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And can never be bought into
condemnation. Turn, if you would, to Romans, chapter eight. Romans, chapter eight. Look at verses 32 to 39. This
is good news. This is talking about the reconciliation
that we have in Christ and Christ alone. He that spared not his
own son, verse 32, but delivered him up for us all, how shall
he not with him also freely give us all things? We could live in this verse 33
right here. If we could only live in this
verse. Look at this. This is wondrous news. This is
God's amazing grace. And this redemption is so complete. Remember that there's no spot
or blemish in God's people after we were washed in the precious
blood of Christ. Look at this. Who shall lay anything
to the charge of God's elect? Now, if we sat down, we thought
about our own sin, we'd just be going, oh, my gosh, right?
But look what Paul writes here, and he's writing this to God's
blood bought saints. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect anything? Anything. Now, we can find fault
real easy in ourselves, can't we? But look what it says. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? Anything. It is God that justifieth. Look at this next verse too.
Who is he that condemneth? Well, sometimes our own hearts
condemn us, don't we? But look at this. This is how
wondrous this salvation is. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. So, no charge can be bought against God's people, who are
washed in the precious blood of Christ. They can't be bought
into condemnation. They're not be judged. No one
can condemn them. because they're in Christ. They're
in Christ. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? That pretty well covers everything,
doesn't it? When you look at that, that covers everything. As it is written, for thy sake
we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for
the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors. How? Through him that loved us.
Through Christ. For I am persuaded that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Again, he keeps us, doesn't he? He keeps us. Turn, if you would,
to Ephesians chapter one, verse seven. Now, redemption in the
Greek is defined as this, a deliverance procured by the payment of a
ransom. Deliverance procured by the payment of a ransom. So when we're reading this, remember
the deliverance that has occurred. What are we delivered from, beloved?
All our sins. We're delivered from the wrath
of God. We're delivered from the justice of God. Look, it
says, in whom we have redemption. What a marvelous biblical word,
redemption. a deliverance procured by the
payment of a ransom, in whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his
grace. This redemption that we have
is in Christ, in Christ alone. Notice there in verse seven,
in whom? Remember today we looked at by
him in Colossians 1.20, in whom we have redemption. This is something
that every believer has. They possess this in Christ.
And the purchase price of this great redemption from all our
sins, from the wrath of God, from the justice of God, from
the curse of the law, is through His blood. Through His blood. We know that the life of the
flesh is in the blood. So Christ gives His life. for
His people. Oh, the precious, precious blood
of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God incarnate in the flesh.
And a result of this wonderful redemption in the Lord Jesus Christ is noted
in that text there in Ephesians 1-7. What's the result? The forgiveness
of sins. The forgiveness of sins. The believer has A full and complete forgiveness.
Nothing's ever bought against us. That's why Paul said, who
can lay any charge to God's life? That's why he wrote that. This
is a full salvation. Full forgiveness. And we say,
hallelujah, what a Savior, don't we? Hallelujah, what a Savior. And then look at the last part
of that verse. We see the source of this wonderful
redemption in Christ, according to the riches of His grace. It's
according to the riches of God's grace. Is God not merciful to
us? What a great God we have. And
all who have been redeemed, all who have been redeemed are
in awe of the riches of the grace of God and Christ which have
been given to us. The fourth word I'd like to look
at is born again. Or as we like to say, regeneration. Born again. And we know this
is by the Holy Spirit of God. Turn, if you would, to John chapter
three, verses one to seven. And remember, too, with these
words, with these words, it proves that salvation's of the Lord.
Each word that we've looked at proves that salvation's of the
Lord. It's all in, it's all His doing. Regeneration is the new birth,
which means to be born again. Look at John 3, verses 1 to 7. There was a man of the Pharisees
named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus
by night and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher
come from God. For no man can do these miracles
that thou doest except God be with him. Jesus answered and
said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, how
can a man be born when he's old? Now, this is a natural man's
response. This is an honest, natural man's
response. He's not, he's not, he's not,
He's not being facetious here, I don't believe. This is a natural
man's response. How can a man be born when he's
old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and
be born? Now look at this, Jesus answered,
see, the Lord's speaking spiritual things to him and he's thinking
physical. Jesus answered, very verily I
say unto thee, except the man be born of the water and of the
spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which
is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the
spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, ye must
be born again. In the Greek, it is defined as
being born from above, from a higher place. Again, we're
born into this world dead in trespasses and sins. But God
makes sinners alive in Christ by regenerating them, which means
born again. Turn, if you would, to Colossians
2. And this is a work of the Holy Spirit of God. This is a
work of the Holy Spirit of God. It's a work by Him and Him alone.
Colossians 2, verses 10 to 14. And again, note how the Lord
stressed, ye must be born again. You must be born again. Except
the man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Except
the man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the
kingdom of God. This is the Bible. But we see here in Colossians
2.10, and here's that verse I mentioned this morning, and ye are complete
in Him. We could just sit there, couldn't we? And ye are complete in Him, which
is the head of all principality and power. Now look here, we
see the mighty work of the Spirit of God. Whom also ye are circumcised
with the circumcision made without hands, and the putting off of
the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.
Buried with him in baptism, wherein ye are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God. See, this is an operation
of God. To be born again is an operation of God. We can't make
ourselves born again. It's like we can't save ourselves. And do you know what praying
a prayer is? I remember Brother Henry bringing this out, and
I've not forgot this. You think about this. What we're
reading about here is Holy Spirit regeneration, isn't it? And what
the Lord was talking to Nicodemus was about Holy Spirit regeneration. Brother Henry one time, I was
listening to one of his messages, and he's brought this out. He
said, this praying a prayer is nothing but decisional regeneration.
It's not a God. It's a man praying something
and then saying, oh, good now. Ever heard people say that to
you? I'm good. I made my peace with God. By
praying a prayer? We saw today that peace only
comes with God through Christ. And we saw, reading here, that
regeneration only comes by the work of the Spirit. Let's continue
reading here with that in mind. Buried with Him in baptism, wherein
you are risen with Him through the faith and the operation of
God. So, this circumcision made without hands. is to be born
again, who hath raised him from the dead. And look at here, we
see it in verse 13 here. And you being dead in your sins,
that was our state. That was our state. We were alive
physically, but we were spiritually dead. In the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you,
what? Look at that, all trespasses. Isn't that wonderful? So this
operation of God, when we're born again, is a work of the
Holy Spirit of God. And look at this, heaven forgive
you all trespasses. I love, I absolutely love verse
14, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against
us. Now think of that. Think of all the sins that we commit
in our lifetime as ordinances against us. Oh my gosh. Blotting it out. Now in the Greek that means to
whitewash. Gone. Tie that in with as far as the
east is from the west. So our sins are gone. We're forgiven
in Christ. Blotting out the handwriting
of ordinances that was against us. Which was contrary to us
and took it out of the way. Nailing it to His cross. Praise
be to God. What a Savior. What a Redeemer. So regeneration is the actual
deliverance of the elect, redeemed sinner from spiritual death into
spiritual life. And the believer in Christ is
born again, quickened by the Holy Spirit of God. And the passage
here in Colossians goes along with the passage in Ephesians
2. I won't read it tonight, but if you go home and read it or
in your spare time, read from Ephesians. Read the whole second
chapter of Ephesians, but the first five verses It talks about
us at first being dead in trespasses and sins, and then we're quickened
by the Holy Spirit of God. Ties right in. Ties right in. God must make us alive. We must
be born again. And this is all done by the effectual
power and the irresistible grace of God the Holy Spirit. And again,
we give praise to God for his goodness and his mercy. And that
what he does for us. He does for us that which we
could never do. Remember, with man it's impossible,
but with God it's possible. All things are possible. The
last word I'd like us to look at is purpose or providence.
Purpose. Providence is the glorious, mysterious,
sovereign rule of the universe by God, and God does all things
according to his purpose. Look at Romans 8.28. I know we
looked at it already once, but let's look at it again, and then
we'll turn to Ephesians 3. Romans 8, 28, it says this, and
we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God. A lot of people like to stop there. You got to read the whole verse.
You got to read the whole verse to them who are the called according
to his purpose. That's wonderful for God's elect.
We know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
He governs the universe, think of this, He governs the universe
according to His purpose. He raises up nations and He raises
up leaders, all according to His purpose. He elects His people
in Christ according to His purpose. And He predestinates His people
in Christ and conforms them to the image of Christ according
to His purpose. He regenerates His people by
the power of the Holy Spirit of God according to His purpose.
He's redeemed His people by the precious blood of Christ according
to His purpose. He keeps His people and will
glorify His people in Christ according to His purpose and
praise God we who believe are saved according to His purpose.
It's wonderful. All things are done according
to His purpose. And it's God who has purpose
to save a people in Christ. He did that. And He saves His
people in Christ, and it's all to the praise and glory and honor
of His name. And we who are the recipients
of this wonderful, marvelous grace, we bow to the fact that
we are saved according to His purpose. And we praise His name,
don't we? We thank Him for including us. Oh, what a great God. Turn, if you would, to Ephesians
3.11. This will be the last text we'll look at tonight. Ephesians chapter 3. Ephesians
chapter 3. Let's read up to verse Let's
read from verse 8. And to me, who am less than the
least of all saints, is this grace given that I should preach
among you, among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Every time a gospel preacher gets up, he's proclaiming the
unsearchable riches of Christ. And to make all men see what
is the fellowship and the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ,
the intent that now unto the principalities and powers and
heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom
of God." Look at this. "...according to the eternal
purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." This is all done according to
His purpose. So these five Bible words are
ones which every Christian should know. And the five words show
us that salvation is of the Lord. This list could have easily been
25 words. We could do a whole series every
week on five different words. And I guarantee you, they all
show you that salvation is of the Lord. They point us to the
wonderful redemptive work that the Lord Jesus Christ has wrought
out for His people. This is an accomplished, finished
salvation. And these precious truths are
like a wheel with five spokes. And all these spokes flow from
God, and they find their center in the hub, which is Christ Jesus
our Lord. That's where they find it. They
all go to Him. They all meet in Christ. And
the believer in Christ says, praise and glory to His name.
Heavenly Father, we thank Thee again for this time that we could
spend together. And we thank You for these five
words which come from Your Word that are so precious to the believer.
And as I said, Lord, there's so many words that we can look
at, so many words. And they all point to Thee, Lord
Jesus. And again, without You, they all fall apart. Oh, Lord,
what a wondrous salvation we have in Thee. And Lord, we who
are your saved, blood-bought people, born again by the Holy
Spirit of God, again, we marvel that you included us. We marvel
in this wondrous salvation. We pray that you'd use the message
for your glory and honor and praise, and that if it's your
will to draw in some of your lost sheep, Lord, we give you
all the glory and honor and praise for that. We love you again because
you first loved us. Oh Lord, How marvelous is this
love that you have for us. And it's in your name we pray.