I want to say if the things recorded
in this passage are not true, I have no hope. But they are
true. If the things said here don't
mean exactly what they say, I have no hope. But they do mean exactly
what they say. I hear men try to explain that
it don't mean exactly what it says. They're explaining away
my hope. Because my hope is that God has
done exactly what he says he's done in these verses. That's
my hope. We'll comment on every verse,
but some things here. begins with the words, Paul,
an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God. He's saying
right here in the first statement, I didn't choose this for myself. I didn't volunteer for this. It's by the will of God. This was a man as a young man,
a Pharisee called Saul of Tarsus, of great reputation among the
Jews, a very religious man. And he was fast working his way
to the top in the Jews' religion. And he was very content with
that. He never decided to rearrange
his life in the way it was rearranged. Oh, no. He tells us about it
in three places. He gives his testimony, Acts
9, Acts 22, and Acts 26. He says, I was on the road to
Damascus. And he wasn't going down there
for Sunday school or worship. No, he was going down
there to Try and stamp out the preaching
of the gospel in the name of Jesus Christ. But he says, as
I journeyed, I was interrupted on my way, there appeared a light
from heaven. It was brighter than the noonday
sun. And it was Christ in His glory
apprehending this man. to change his life forever. He was never the same from that
time forth. He began right in that passage,
he began to call Jesus, Lord. Who art thou, Lord? What wilt
thou have me do, Lord? Well, he never did that before. There was a change that he didn't
make. It was by the will of God. So he says here, this change
in my life was God's doing. I am who I am, what I am, where
I am, by the will of God. He tells us in Galatians chapter
1 and verse 15 when it happened. He said when it pleased God. He didn't say anything about
when I decided to turn over a new leaf. No. When it pleased God. That's when it happened. To reveal
His Son in me. The remainder of verse 1, Paul
is writing to the saints. Meaning those sanctified, set
apart by God. Not those who set themselves
apart and decided to become professional religionists. I know a lot of
them. but those God set apart, the
saints at Ephesus. And this letter is initially
addressed to them, but you and I understand that given by divine
inspiration, preserved by the Holy Ghost to this very hour,
the message is for all believers, for you and I as well. The personal
pronouns Paul uses all refer to God's children. Verse 3, it's,
who hath blessed us, not them, unbelievers, but us, believers. Verse 4, he hath chosen us, that
we should be counted holy. Verse 5, having predestinated
us. Verse 6, he's made us accepted. Verse 7, we have redemption,
and on and on and on it goes. It's wrong to try and press on
the unbelieving world things given to God's children only. But if you're truly a believer
in Jesus Christ today, which includes, by the way, acknowledgement
of and submission to His Lordship in your life, then these things
are for you. I'm not talking about people
that's walked down the aisle, grinning like an opossum, chomping
on their gum, saying, you believe Jesus died on the cross for your
sin? Yeah. Well, you're saved. No, you're not saved. Right here
is how it happened. What happened to this man is
when the God of glory knocks you off your feet and strips
you of your pride and causes you to see that you're at His
mercy and He's not at your mercy. That's how it happens. That's
how it happens. So, He goes on to say, Grace
be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ. That's a beautiful greeting. And then verse 3, Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. It's strange to me that men talk
about, and I've heard this all my life, They talk about certain
spiritual blessings that not all believers have because they
have not attained to a certain level of holiness like they themselves
have. That's nothing but fleshly, selfish,
religious competition. I'm better than you and, you
know, No, this statement in verse 3, it's in the past tense. It
says that He hath blessed us already with how many? All spiritual
blessings. Where and how? In Christ Jesus. I want to look in these verses
hurriedly at five words that are precious to me. But don't
get sidetracked. Five words precious to me and
precious to all true believers, subjects of God's saving grace.
Now, I repeat, these words are not precious to self-made so-called
saints that's decided to be nice to God and give Him a chance. That's a term you hear, you know. But these words are precious
to all who have experienced and know by the grace of God that
salvation is of the Lord. Number one is the word chosen. You say, well, you talk about
that a lot. Not near enough, I don't think. Verse four, according as He,
the Father, have chosen us believers in Him, in Christ, before the
foundation of the world. We were not chosen because we're
believers. We were chosen to be believers. We were not chosen because He
foresaw that we'd believe. We wouldn't. We were chosen to
believe. Chosen that we should be holy. Now some of you have done already
on the wrong track. That word should there does not
mean ought to. And it's true we ought to. But
that's not what he's saying. He's saying we're chosen In order
that, we'd be counted and declared
holy and without blame before God. This choosing by God in
Christ from eternity is to be where to be. We are declared
holy and without blame in His sight. Potential blessing, something
you ought to make happen. It's not a potential blessing,
something God might do, no. Or a possible blessing, something
you might attain unto if you try hard enough. No, it's a purposed
blessing already done. If you're struggling with assurance
this morning, Quit trying to do what you can't do and believe what He's already
done. Somebody says, well, I believe
God lets people make up their own mind and choose to accept
Him or reject Him. He did that with Adam, our federal
head. And in Adam, we all made our choice.
In Adam, we all said no to God. We don't want God, we don't need
God. You were all born saying that. And if God leaves you alone, you'll die saying that. If God is to have any glory,
in salvation, if there's even to be any salvation for you,
it's because He takes the initiative and steps into, I'll use the
word intrude if you prefer, into your little world and turns it
upside down, just like He did Saul on the road to Damascus. Most people don't understand
or believe really. God's purpose to save includes
Him doing it. You say, well, I believe God
gives everybody the chance to be saved. Nobody's ever been
saved by chance. God has to do it on purpose.
And He does. He does. People will not confess
to helplessness. They believe, I can make it happen
when I'm ready. They don't understand the bondage
of fallen nature that's never ready. Even if it was up to you, you'd
say, maybe next time. Maybe next week. Maybe next year. No. I heard a fellow trying to
explain this away and he went to 1 Peter 1. where the scripture
says that God's people are elect according to the foreknowledge
of God. And he said what that meant was
that God looked ahead down through the pages of time and saw that
you would believe, so He chose you on that basis of what you
would do. That would make it your election.
Not His, but it's His. Verse 4 says, it is He that has
chosen us. When you think of foreknowledge,
don't think of God knowing what you'd do. That's no big deal. Of course He knows what you'll
do. When you consider foreknowledge, think of God knowing what He'll
do. That's the beauty of it. That changes everything. He'll
never do otherwise than what in his foreknowledge and foreordination
he's purposed to do. So this is very clear. God chose
his people when? Before the foundation of the
world. He hadn't decided on anything
since we've been here. You've never talked him into
anything or out of anything. He's just a little bit bigger
than you give him credit for. God chose. You're not worth it. I'm not worth it. We're no better
or worse than the rest of fallen humanity. You pick the lowdownest
scoundrel you know of anywhere in any condition, but for the
grace of God it'd be you. You're made out of the same stuff. So, this fourth verse says, God's
choice of us was not because of us, or in us, but in Christ. I've heard ignorant religious
people Trying to sound humble and say, well, I just don't know
what the Lord saw in me. He saw nothing but a bunch of
hell, that's what. He didn't choose you for your
sake, but for Christ's sake. Chosen
in Christ. That's the secret of this whole
business. Not only chosen, but my second
word, predestinated. Verse 5, having predestinated
us. Again, don't overlook the us.
The Lord's people. And this word predestinate is
quite simple. Destination, as you know, is
where you're going to arrive at. These folks left Texas, and their
destination was North Carolina, and here they are. It's the destination, where you're
going to arrive at, where you're headed, that's the destination.
And the prefix pre- simply means beforehand. So predestination
is to determine the destination beforehand. God did that for
his elect children, having predestinated us. Now notice what he says God's
people are predestinated unto. Unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ or in Jesus Christ to Himself. This word adoption, we normally
use the term in the sense of somebody adopting a baby or a
small child. Well, nowadays it can be a dog
or a cat. Sorry, didn't mean to throw that
in. adopting a baby or a small child. But in the New Testament,
it doesn't just mean that. In the upbringing of a child,
there's a time of nursing and schooling and training and for
a time under tutors. Adoption was a coming of age
and being granted full privileges of sonship. Well, that's where we are. And
that's what we're predestinated unto. Heirs of God join heirs
with Jesus Christ. What position we're predestinated
unto and given in Christ? The adoption of children. Where is children? In recent
years, I know you all know this, This business of dying and there's
come along this thing about getting your wings. Somebody got their wings today
because they kicked a bucket. Becoming an angel. No, our position
in Christ is higher than angels. We're the very children of God. That's more than I can grasp.
Join the club. They say, oh, we're going to
join that angel choir. Oh, no. The angels cannot sing
our song. Redemption by Christ's blood. So adoption, adoption. And even
in the sense that we use the term adoption, I thought about
this. It's one thing to send a few
dollars and some worn out clothes to an orphanage. But it's something
else altogether to get in your car and drive there and select
a child and say, I'm adopting this child for my very own. Aren't you glad God didn't send
a few dollars and send you a pair of worn-out breeches? No. Before
he ever hung the stars, he said, he's my son. She's my daughter. We're His children. We're His
children. That's glorious. It's one thing
for God to give you good health, for you to live 80, 90 years.
But if you die and go to hell, what was that worth? Nothing. It's one thing for the
Lord to bless you materially. And we thank God that He has
blessed some of you materially. and make you a millionaire. But,
if you die and go to hell, what's that worth? Absolutely nothing. Here's what's blessed. Here's
what's blessed. We're His children. His children. What God has done for this poor,
wretched sinner you're looking at. He's chosen me. He's adopted me to be His child. My third word is accepted. accepted
in verse 6. Everyone wants acceptance. Now I know some people say, I
don't care if anybody likes me or not. Liar. Liar. Sure, everyone wants acceptance. And how vain it is for people
to strive in religions of all sorts to be accepted with God
apart from Jesus Christ. It don't happen. They start so many things that
are good. They quit so many things that
are bad, hoping that finally the good will outweigh the bad.
It never will. Thank God I don't live in that
country. Live in verse 6, wherein he God the Father hath made us,
His elect children, accepted in the Beloved, in Christ. Back in the book of Genesis,
I was reading this week. You remember Joseph brought his
brethren. They were going to go in before Pharaoh. And so
Joseph gives them a little pep talk beforehand. And he told
him, said, now when he asked you your occupation, tell him
the truth. These fellows were known to lie.
He said, tell him that your shepherds have been from your youth up. Joseph knew, the brothers knew,
that the scripture said right in that same text that every
shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians. They hated him. It would have been easy to lie.
It would have been convenient to lie. But Joseph said, don't
lie. Just tell him the truth. Just
tell him the truth. And you'll be accepted for my
sake. And they were. The Lord Jesus
Christ would say to your heart and mind this morning, don't
try to lie your way in. Just tell Him the truth. You'll
be accepted for my sake. Accepted in the Beloved. My fourth word is Redemption.
Verse 7, In whom? The whom is Christ Jesus. In
whom we have redemption through His blood. Redemption, you know, or to redeem
means to buy back. It involves an ownership that's
been mortgaged. You can't redeem something that
never did belong to you. That's how a pawn shop operates.
You take an item in, a gun, a piece of jewelry, whatever, anything
of some value, and you borrow money against that item. It's still yours legally, but
you've lost possession of it. And when you go back and pay
that loan with interest, you redeem what's yours. Nobody else
can come in and do that. Only you can do it because you
own it. You can redeem it. Sin put us all in the pawn shop. The blood of Christ paid the redemption price for
all God had chosen to be his children. All whose names are written in
the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the world. Your people talk about, have
you had your name written? Too late. Too late. Whose names are written from
the foundation of the world. You don't walk into the pawn
shop and redeem everything there. Just what's yours. Just what's
yours. Christ redeemed us at Calvary
because we were His from eternity. Some of you never heard stuff
like this. You're acting like it anyway. If you've been here,
you have. I want you to understand that His
interest in you never came because of your interest in Him. Your interest in Him, if you
have any, came because of his interest in you. That's the order. We love him because he first
loved us. Often with the thought of redemption,
the subject of slavery comes up. No slave can decide, well, I
want to switch plantations. I'm tired of this slave owner.
I believe I'll switch and belong to somebody else. That's why
religion tries to talk you into being saved. Just tell the devil
you're sick of him, you're going to be on God's side for a while.
Nah, it ain't happening. The slave has absolutely no say
in the matter. There must be a transaction between
the slave owners. And the slave will really have
no knowledge of the transaction. till after the deal is made,
sealed and price paid. We were all slaves in the fields
of Satan. Had no knowledge of deliverance,
no hope of deliverance, and no desire for deliverance. But,
Paul said, God commendeth His love toward us in that while
we were yet sinners." Not when I told him I might be
interested in making a change. No, no, no. While we were yet
sinners with no intention of being anything
else, Christ died for us. 1 Peter 3.18 For Christ also
hath once suffered for sins, the just," that's Him, the just
one, "...for the unjust," that's us, "...that He might," what? "...bring
us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by
the Spirit." Did He suffer in the flesh? Yes. Did He die? Yes. Did He rise again? Yes. Did He do what He came to
do? Bring us to God? Yes. Yes. Then why do we believe we've
got to add something to what He did? His blood was not the down payment. It was the full price. He bought us. He bought us. I've told you this little story
before. about a little boy that carved
him out a wooden boat, out of wood. And he painted it, and
he made a little sail for it. He made it nice. And he lived
beside a little stream. And every day he'd go down, put
that little boat in the water, and he'd walk down the stream
and watch it, play with it. Down there a while, he'd catch
it, come back up and start again. Well, one time it had been raining
a lot and the water was really up. And he put his little boat in
the water and it moved pretty swiftly. And he got away from
him. And he lost it. Out of sight
and gone. And he grieved, and he went and
told his mama. A few weeks later, he was in
town with his mother walking down the street, and they walked
past a toy store. And he looked in the window,
and there was his boat. And he said to his mother, that's
my boat. And he talked her into going
in. And he said to the man, he said, that's my boat. And the man just chuckled and
said, no, son, it's my boat. I bought it. And it's for sale. You can buy it. And the little
boy persuaded his mother to give him the money to buy it. And
when he had paid the man and had the boat in his hands, He
said to it, I created you, I made you, you're mine. I lost you and I was sad, but
you were still mine. Now I've paid a price and bought
you back. You're mine and I'll never let
go of you again. That's redemption. That's redemption. And that's the story of Jose.
God told him to go down to the slave market and pay a price
to buy back his harlot wife that was already his. That's redemption. That's what Christ did when he
went to the cross. He bought us who were already
His by gift from the Father. Redemption. How many words did
I talk about? Did I talk about forgiveness?
I don't think I did. Forgiveness. Verse 7. The forgiveness of sins. Redemption is the accomplishment.
Christ's blood is the price. Forgiveness of sins is the certain
result. As certain as Christ shed his
blood for all the sins of all those for whom it was shed, our
sins are forgiven. People say, if I could just know
for sure, my sins are forgiven. Well, if you can't believe that
Christ accomplished exactly what the scripture clearly says he
accomplished, by His death, including forgiveness of sins, you'll never
know. And you don't really believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, because that's what He did. Revelation
1.5, He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. We're forgiven. Somebody says,
if I could just forget my past. In Christ, you don't have a past.
We're a new creation. No one can lay anything to the
charge of God's elect. It is Christ that died, yea rather,
is risen again. We're forgiven. Our sins are
gone. Years ago now, my wife June and
I went down to the coast of North Carolina for a
few days. Preachers don't go to the beach,
they go to the coast. So we went down to the coast
and one evening just before dark, I was walking down the coast watching the waves come in. And
I was meditating, talking to the Lord, and I stooped down
in the sand, and I wrote with my finger the word, SINNER. S-I-N-N-E-R. And I stood up and looked up,
and I said, Lord, that's me, and you know it better than I
do. And in just a few seconds, a
wave came in and went back out. And it distorted my writing a
little bit, but I could still read it. I stood there a few more seconds
and another wave came in and it really distorted it. And I
couldn't read what it said, but you could see that the sand had
been scratched in. And I stood there a few more
moments, and another wave came in, and when it went back out,
the sand was as smooth as if it had never been written in. Forgiveness. Forgiveness. That's what Christ has done for
his people.