Tis not that I did you wrong Todd's Road Grace Church would
like to invite you to listen to a sermon by our pastor, Todd
Nyberg. We are located at 4137 Todd's
Road, two miles outside of Manowar Boulevard. Sunday services are
at 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible study is at
9.45 a.m. Wednesday services are at 7 p.m. Nursery is provided for all services.
For more information visit our website at toddsroadgracechurch.com. Now here's our pastor, Todd Nyvert. The chapter divisions in the
Old Testament and the New Testament are man-made. The verses are
man-made. I'm thankful for them. We couldn't
find passages of Scripture if it weren't for the chapters and
the verses. But sometimes where they put
the chapters and verses are unfortunate, because they really make something
not make sense. So I'm going to read the last
two verses of Ephesians chapter 1, verse 4. the last two words, rather, of
Ephesians 1 chapter 4 and the fifth verse together. We read
in Ephesians chapter 1, the last two words of verse 4, in love,
having predestinated us. I'm going to try to speak upon
this subject predestination and salvation. In love, having predestinated
us. Predestination has to do with
the love of God. Predestination tells us of the
will of God. Predestination has to do with
the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Predestination has to do with
the great end of salvation, being conformed to the image of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Predestination secures and guarantees
all the rest of salvation, beginning with calling. And predestination
is about revelation. So you can see why I've called
or entitled this message, Predestination and Salvation. Now, you can't
read the Bible and deny that the Bible teaches predestination. It's named six different times
in the New Testament. Yes, the Bible does indeed teach
predestination. Usually when people think of
predestination, they will have a vague, well, there's a reason
behind everything, and that's true. Or they will think that
all events have been predetermined and predestinated. That's true. Somebody says, well, that means
what will be, will be. Well, that's a lot more sensible
than what will be, won't be. Of course what will be, will
be, because God is God. He is in control. Now, many misrepresent
predestination with these three different caricatures. First,
God predestinated some to heaven and some to hell. That's not
what the Bible teaches about predestination. And if someone
makes that statement with regard to predestination, all they prove
is they don't have any idea what they're talking about. That's
not what the Bible teaches with regard to predestination. Another
caricature is, if you're predestinated, you'll be saved no matter what. Now, half of that is true. If
you're predestinated, you will be saved, But what people mean
by that is you'll be saved even if you never believe, even if
you never hear, even if you live in utter rebellion, you'll be
saved as long as you're predestinated. That's not what predestination
teaches. Someone that presents it in that
light has no idea of what predestination is. Here's the third caricature. If you're not predestinated,
you will not be saved even if you want to be. It may be you
cry for mercy and desire to be saved from your sins, and the
Lord says, Nope, you haven't been predestinated. That's never
happened. That's another false view of
predestination. And I know the enemies of free
grace and the enemies of predestination try to present it in that light,
but that is a false light. Now, the meaning of predestination
is found in the Word. pre-destination. Now in the Blue Grass Airport
this morning there will be flights going out and they have a pre-determined
destination. They don't go up in the air and
just wander around and think, well, where will I land? No,
they have a predetermined, predestined place that they're going. That's
what predestination is. God has predestinated that those
He loves be with Him forever. That's their destiny. Their destiny
is to be made just like Christ. And God has the ability to predetermine
everything for His people, and predestination always has something
to do with salvation. Now, did God know you would be
listening to this message this morning? Of course He did. Is
there any way you wouldn't have? No. This is all a part of God's
providence. God has complete control over
the free and uncoerced actions of men. It may be you're planning
to go somewhere this morning. Maybe you're planning to go to
a church service. Well, that's something you predestinated
to do. Now, the problem is you don't
have power to make sure what you predetermined comes to pass.
You might have a car wreck. You might get killed on the way
there. But God has the power to make sure everything that
He has predetermined comes to pass, and He has predestinated
that every one of His loved ones be just like Christ. Now, this word is found six times
in the New Testament. It's taught in the Old Testament
as well. God is a God of predestination. That is who He is. And if the God you worship is
not a God of predestination, the God you worship doesn't exist.
He's a false God. You might as well be worshiping
a totem pole, because the God of the Bible is a God of absolute
predestination. Now, I know men object to this,
and they say, well, that makes man a puppet. Well, if you reject
predestination, you make God a puppet on the strings of man's
free will. Now, who do you want to be? Puppet.
Men or God? Well, I'd a whole lot rather
have God in control than men. And thank God He is a God of
absolute predestination, as long as God is God. Predestination
is not up for debate, and any objection you may have to predestination
is an objection you have to God Himself. And my dear friend,
that's a battle you're going to lose. God is the God of absolute
predestination. I don't apologize for that. God
is God, and I love it that way. Somebody says, I don't like that.
Well, I do. I do. I love the God of predestination. It's the God who really does
reign and is in control. Now, we find this word six times
in the New Testament, and here's the first time We're going to-here's
the first one we're going to look at and see what it means.
In love, having predestinated us. The love of God is the moving
cause of predestination. Romans 8, 29 says, For whom he
did foreknow, he also did predestinate. Now, that word for know doesn't
simply mean he knew about them. Adam knew his wife Eve. Joseph knew not Mary. What that's talking about is
an intimate love relationship, whom he did love beforehand. whom he foreloved. Whom, not what, this is not talking
about event, it's talking about persons. And in our text it says,
in love he predestinated us. Now, think with me. The love
of God that's presented by religion, and I'm making this statement
about it, That love that says that God loves everybody and
wants everybody to be saved, but he can't save them unless
they do something. That love is a weak, pathetic,
sterile thing. It's not saving. To say God loves
you and wants to save you, but he can't unless you of your free
will accept him and what he did and make what his son did work
for you. If you don't accept Him, you'll
go to hell, and His love will have done you no good. Now, that's
not even as good as you would love, that God could love you
but won't violate your free will, and it's up to you as to whether
or not He can save you or not. What if a parent was like that?
I love my child, but I can't violate their free will. I can't
keep them from doing what they want to do. You know what we'd
do with a parent like that? We'd take the kids away from
the parents and put them in foster care. I mean, they're not good
parents. That's not love. That's lack
of love. That's irresponsibility. That's
indifference. No, God's love's not like that. Now, if I had the power to make
sure everything that I wanted for my children come to pass,
come to pass, if I had the power, I'd do it. I don't, but God does. God is love. Ephesians 2, 4,
and 5 says, But God, for the great love with wherewith he
loved us even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together
with Christ. All that God loves he predestinated. that they will be perfectly conformed
to the image of His Son. And He has the power and the
wisdom to make that come to pass. Now, the key to understanding
predestination is the love of God. He said, Behold, I love
you with an everlasting love. He says that to all the elect,
all who believe, all for whom Christ died. Therefore with loving
kindness have I drawn thee." Now somebody may object, well
the implication of that is he doesn't love all men. It's not
an implication, it's a fact. Psalm 5.5 says, Thou hatest all
workers of iniquity. That's what the Bible says about
God. Now His hatred, I realize, is not like our hatred. It's
a hatred that comes from His holiness and His justice. But the Scripture still says,
thou hatest all workers of iniquity. What about Esau? Jacob have I
loved, but Esau have I hated. Now that's the Word of God. Deal
with it. Deal with it. God's not like
men think He is. He's absolutely just. And yes,
He does hate people, but thank God He loves those He has predestinated. And whatever He does is right.
I'm not going to try to defend God. Whatever He does is right.
Amen? Amen? Whatever He does is right.
but the love of God is behind predestination. Now, secondly,
Ephesians 1, verse 11, in whom also we have obtained inheritance,
being predestinated, there's the word, according to the purpose
of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own
will. Now, predestination is a declaration
of the sovereignty of God in salvation. It's a declaration
of His will being done. It's a declaration of His purpose
being accomplished, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him
who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.
Now, my dear friend, this is who God is. He's the one who
is sovereign. His will is always done. Listen to these scriptures. And
we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are thee called according to his purpose. God is a God of purpose. Romans
9, 11 says 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
calleth. That's God's purpose. We read
in Isaiah chapter 46, beginning in verse 9, Remember the former
things of old, for I am God, and there's none else. I am God,
and there's none like me, declaring the end from the beginning. and
from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,
my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. Calling a ravenous bird from
the east, the man that executes my counsel from a far country,
yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass, I have
purposed it, I also will do it." Now, predestination is the sovereign
will of God being done. He hath mercy on whom he will
have mercy, and whom he wills he hardens. Now, once again,
this is God's Word, not my word. This is God's doctrine, not mine. This is the teaching of Scripture. Now, the third scripture I would
like for us to consider regarding predestination is found in Acts
chapter 4. We read, beginning in verse 27, for of a truth,
Against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both
Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of
Israel, were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand
and thy counsel. determined before to be done. And that's the same Greek word
translated predestinated. Whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel
predestinated. Now what were they talking about? They were talking about every
event surrounding the death of Jesus Christ on a Roman cross.
Everything that took place is what God predestinated to take
place. You see, the cross You can't
understand the cross apart from predestination. Christ is the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and predestination
has to do with the cross of Christ. Now listen real carefully. The
living God is the God of glory, and His motive in all He does
is His own glory. And what glorifies Him most is
the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. The cross is the most God-like
thing God ever did when God made a way to save sinners and magnify
His justice and magnify His love and magnify His holiness and
magnify His purpose and magnify His power all by the cross of
the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, the cross is a declaration
of the character of God. Every attribute of God is magnified
in the cross of Christ. How His love is magnified, how
His justice is magnified, how His power is magnified. So when they were driving the
nails into the hands and the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ,
they were only doing what God's hand and what God's counsel determined
before to be done. You see, God is completely sovereign
over the free actions of men. And when they nail those nails
in His hands and His feet, it's because God predestinated it
to take place. You see, the cross is for the
glory of God. Thank God it's for the salvation
of men, but it is for the glory of God. When Peter preached that
great sermon on the day of Pentecost, He began with these words, Him
being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of
God, you have taken and with wicked hands have crucified and
slain. So predestination has to do with
the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, in predestination, fourthly,
we see God's great end salvation. We read in Romans chapter 8 verse
29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, he
also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. What I'm going
to attempt to say, I want to say it with all reverence, but
predestination is God looking at His only begotten and well-beloved
Son and saying, I'm going to have a bunch more sons and daughters
just like Him. Now that is God's great end in
predestination, to have a people, Christ's brethren, Him being
the firstborn among many brethren, just like, perfectly conformed
to the image of Jesus Christ. Now when I'm in heaven, I'm going
to be just like Christ. I'm still going to be Todd Nybert,
but I'm not going to have any sin. I'm going to be just like
Him. Listen to this scripture. In
1 John 4, verse 17, we read of having boldness on the day of
judgment. Now, what is going to cause a man to have boldness
on the day of judgment? Because as he is, so are we in
this world. When I stand before God in judgment,
I'm going to stand before God just like His blessed Son. And God is going to be pleased
with me and everybody else that Christ died for. And He's going
to say, well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou
into the joy of thy Lord, because I'm going to be just like Christ. That's God's great end in salvation. Now the fifth time the word is
used is in verse 30 of Romans chapter 8, where he says, Moreover,
whom he did predestinate-once again, note that word whom, not
what, but whom. Predestination always has to
do with salvation. Moreover, whom he did predestinate,
them he also called. He called them by His grace,
and they responded, and they believed the gospel. Moreover,
whom He did predestinate, them He also called, and whom He called,
them He also justified. Every one of these people have
a perfect standing before God, because they are perfect. Their
sin has been put away. They have the very righteousness
of Christ. and whom He justified, them He also glorified." Now,
what's the point? Predestination guarantees every
other aspect of salvation. You know, people think of predestination,
well, if you think you're predestinated, you think you'll be saved no
matter what. No, if you're predestinated, you'll be called. called by the
gospel, called by the irresistible grace of Christ, you'll be justified. And you're going to believe the
gospel. That's going to be the evidence of your justification.
And you're going to persevere all the way to the end by the
grace of God until you're glorified. You see, predestination secures
every aspect of salvation. Thank God for predestination,
but when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's
womb and called me by His grace to reveal His Son in me, that
I might preach Him among the heathen, immediately I conferred
an oath with flesh and blood." So we see that predestination
guarantees every other aspect of salvation. Now in 1 Corinthians
chapter 2, this is the last time verse we're going to look at
with regard to predestination. We read in verse 7, but we speak
the wisdom of God. And that's what the gospel is.
It's the wisdom of God. It's not the foolishness of men.
It's the wisdom of God himself. What I'm preaching and who I'm
preaching is the wisdom of God. I'm not giving my own thoughts.
I'm giving what God says in His Word. But we speak the wisdom
of God in a mystery. Now, a mystery is not something
that we, mystery to me, I have no idea what that means. No,
a mystery is that which could have never been known had not
God been pleased to make it known. That's what a mystery is. Oh,
the gospel is a mystery. God is one God in three separate,
distinct persons. God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit. How would we have ever known
that had not God been pleased to make it known? We read of
the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh.
How would we have ever known that had not God been pleased
to make it known? Paul said, regarding the church
and Christ, this is a great mystery, when he was speaking of marriage
and a man and woman coming together and becoming one flesh. He said,
this is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and
the church. Now, we preach, Paul says, the
wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom. Who hid it? God did. I thank thee, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because you've hid these things from
the wise and prudent and revealed them unto babes. We speak the
mystery of God. the hidden in a mystery, even
the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world, which God predestined
unto our glory." which none of the princes of this world knew,
for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory. But as it's written, I hath not seen, nor heard, neither
hath entered into the heart of man the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him, but God hath revealed them unto
us by his Spirit. You see, predestination has to
do with revelation. How would we know that there's
such a thing of predestination had not God revealed it in His
Word? And the gospel comes not by education,
but by revelation. God uncovering things to me and
you. That's His work alone. You remember
when the Lord said to His disciples, Whom say men that I am? And they
put him in some high cotton. Some say you're Elijah or Jeremiah
or one of the prophets. But whom say ye that I am? Peter
answered, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And the Lord replied, Peter,
flesh and blood didn't reveal that to thee, but my Father,
which is in heaven. Now predestination is the doctrine
of divine revelation. Predestination, the love of God,
the will of God, the cross of Christ, the great end in salvation,
the guarantee of salvation, and the glorious doctrine of revelation. This is Todd Nybert praying that
God will be pleased to reveal himself to you. That's our prayer. Amen. To request a copy of the sermon
you have just heard, send your request to messages at todsroadgracechurch.com. Or you may write or call the
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