OK, this morning we're going
to take a look at the last part of Acts chapter 20. Specifically,
I'm taking the title from the words found in verse 32 of Acts
20. And now, brethren, I commend
you to God. PAUL'S LAST WORDS TO THESE DEAR
BELIEVERS. I COMMEND YOU TO GOD. NOW, WHAT A BLESSING TO BE GIVEN
OVER TO THE TOTAL CARE AND KEEPING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE'S
CALLED THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.
HE'S CALLED THE GREAT SHEPHERD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT.
HE'S CALLED THE CHIEF SHEPHERD WHO'S COMING AGAIN, THE CHIEF
SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP. WE'RE TRULY AND FULLY IN HIS
ALMIGHTY HANDS. KEPT BY HIS POWER, REDEEMED BY
HIS GRACE, AND BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS AND HEAVENLY
IN CHRIST. BRETHREN, I COMMEND YOU TO GOD. THAT'S MY MESSAGE. THAT WAS PAUL'S
MESSAGE. I COMMEND YOU TO GOD. IN ROMANS 5, THE APOSTLE WRITES
THIS. BUT GOD COMMENDED HIS LOVE TOWARD
US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.
GOD COMMENDED HIS LOVE TOWARD US. AND WE COMMEND EVERY BELIEVER
UNTO THE LORD FOR HIS CARE AND KEEPING. MUCH MORE THAN BEING
NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH
HIM. I COMMEND YOU TO GOD AND TO THE
WORD OF HIS GRACE. WE HAVE IN THESE VERSES THE APOSTLE
PAUL'S LAST MESSAGE TO THESE DEAR BRETHREN AT EPPHESUS. PAUL KNEW AND SAID SO THAT HE
SAID, I'D NEVER SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN. You remember verse 25,
and now behold, I know that you all among whom I've gone preaching,
preaching the kingdom of God shall see my face no more. Again in verse 38 he says, sorry
most of all for the word which he spake, that they should see
him no more. They love this man because of
the gospel message he brought to them. And he loved them. He loved them. So these are his last words of
the Apostle Paul from the throne of God to their heart, from the
heart of Paul, but also recorded for us. These words are for us. These are Paul's words unto us. Brethren, I give you over to
God. To God. His last words. Now, if I knew this was my last
message to you, And one day I'll preach my last message to you.
Don't know when that day will come. But if I knew this was
my last message to you, what would I say? Would I change my
message or continue by the grace of God to preach the gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ to you? Would I alter my message, change
my message, or continue to determined as Paul to preach nothing among
you but Jesus Christ and him crucified? We preach not ourselves,
but the Lord Jesus Christ and ourselves, your servant for his
sake. So we preach unto you, as he says in verse 20, you know
how that I've kept back nothing profitable unto you. that I've
shown you publicly and privately, testifying openly to Jew or Gentile,
to all men everywhere, the necessity of repentance toward God and
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As he says in verse 27, I have
not shunned to declare unto you all the word of God, all the
revealed testimony of God, all the counsel of God concerning
the Lord Jesus Christ. I like what some preachers of
the past have said about this last sermon. Robert Hawker said,
he that preaches should always preach as though it was his last
sermon. That's pretty good advice for
the preacher. To preach as it may be my last sermon. Richard Baxter said, and I've
given this to you many times, I preach as one who may never
preach again. I preach as a dying man. AND
I PREACH TO DYING MEN. WE STUDIED THAT IN OUR LESSON
THIS MORNING, DIDN'T WE? 2ND CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 5. THIS
EARTHLY TABERNACLE OF THIS HOUSE IS BEING... THIS HOUSE IS BEING
DISSOLVED. THE APOSTLE JAMES SAID, WHEREFORE,
MY BELOVED BRETHREN, LET EVERY MAN BE SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO
SPEAK. YOU SHOULD APPROACH THIS MESSAGE
AND THIS WORSHIP SERVICE AS IT MAY BE THE LAST GOSPEL MESSAGE
YOU EVER HEAR RIGHT HERE UPON THIS EARTH. IT MAY WELL BE. I
don't know what tomorrow holds. I know who holds tomorrow, but
I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. Now, last week
we brought this message from verse 28. Paul gives us in these
closing words from verse 28 down through verse 31, he gives us
some precious promises and God hedges us about with precious
promises lest we despair, but also he gives us warnings lest
we presume. Take heed, he says, brethren,
unto yourselves and over all the flock of which God the Holy
Spirit hath made you the pastor, the overseer, to do what? Feed
them. Feed the church of God, believers
in Christ, THOSE THAT HE HAS BOUGHT WITH HIS OWN PRECIOUS
BLOOD. SO TAKE HEED, AND I KNOW, HE
SAYS, VERSE 29, THAT AFTER MY DEPARTING SHALL GRIEVOUS WOLVES
ENTER IN AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK THAT HAPPENED IN PAUL'S
DAY, AND THIS HAPPENED IN OUR DAY, AND IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. ALSO OF YOUR OWN SELVES SHALL
MEN ARISE, SPEAKING REVERSE THINGS, TO DRAW AWAY DISCIPLES AFTER
THEM. Be on guard. That's what he's
saying here. Be on guard. Pay attention. And remember,
by the space of three years, Paul spent three years. He spent
longer in Ephesus. He spent more time in Ephesus
than any other place he was at. He spent 18 months in Corinth,
three years here in Ephesus preaching and teaching, holding back nothing,
declaring all the counsel of God. I cease not to warn everyone,
night and day, AT ALL SEASONS WITH MANY TEARS, IN SINCERITY
OF HEART. IN MANY TEARS IS PREACHING WITH
A BROKEN HEART, PREACHING WITH HUMILITY, PREACHING WITH COMPASSION,
PREACHING THE GOSPEL WITH LOVE. AND NOW, BRETHREN, YOU SEE VERSE
32? AND NOW, BRETHREN, I COMMEND
YOU TO GOD AND TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, WHICH IS ABLE TO BUILD
YOU UP and to give you inheritance among all them that are sanctified
in the Lord Jesus Christ." I commend you to God. Could we give any better recommendation
to any believer, to all men everywhere? He's saying here is this, I'm
pointing you to God. I'm pointing you to the Lord
Jesus Christ who is God our Savior. I'm telling you to look to Him
for salvation, for salvation is in Him. Saving faith is always
looking to the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why Paul says, I point
you to Him. Look to Him, not me. Look to Him, not to the church. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is God our Savior. This word commend means TO PLACE
SOMEONE IN THE CARE OF ANOTHER, TO ENTRUST THEM TO ANOTHER, TO
COMMIT THEM, AND TO BRING THEM NEAR. BRETHREN, I COMMEND YOU
TO GOD AND TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE. TO GOD OUR SAVIOR. NOW IT'S INTERESTING, THE APOSTLE
PAUL SAID THIS ONCE BEFORE. TURN BACK TO ACTS CHAPTER 14.
ACTS CHAPTER 14, VERSE 21. when Paul was stoned there at
Lystra, Acts 14, 21, when they had preached the gospel to that
city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and
to Iconium and to Antioch, Acts 14, 22, confirming the souls
of the disciples. Exhorting them to continue in
the faith that we must do much tribulation enter into the kingdom
of God And when they had ordained them elders in every church and
had prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord on
whom they believed So Paul said I point you to the Lord Jesus
Christ who is God our Savior It's interesting In Luke 23,
the last words of our Lord Jesus Christ upon Calvary's tree, you
remember what he said? And when Jesus had cried with
a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having said thus, he gave
up the ghost. Could we be in better hands than
in the hands of God? Could you be in better hands?
in the hands of God. My insurance company, and I'm
glad I've got an insurance company on my automobiles. My insurance
company always advertise, they always advertise, you're in good
hands with Allstate. And they've taken good care of
me. I've got no complaints. But that's
not my hope. My hope is I'm in His hands. David prayed that in Psalm 31.
My times are in His hands. Deliver me from my enemies. God's not in our hands. We're
in His hands. Matter of fact, you remember
Psalm 95 where we have read, He is our God. We are the people
of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. MY LORD SAID IN
JOHN 10, MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, I KNOW THEM, I GIVE UNTO THEM
ETERNAL LIFE, AND NO ONE CAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HANDS. MY
FATHER WHO GAVE TO ME IS GREATER THAN ALL, AND NO ONE CAN PLUCK
THEM OUT OF HIS HANDS. WE ARE SAFE IN HIS HANDS. I COMMEND
YOU TO HIS KEEPING, HIS CHARGE, INTO HIS HANDS. GOD, OUR SAVIOR,
HATH IN HIMSELF ALL POWER TO SAVE YOU, DOESN'T HE? HE PRAYED
THAT IN JOHN 17, FATHER, I THANK YOU, YOU'VE GIVEN ME POWER OVER
ALL FLESH THAT I SHOULD GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO AS MANY AS THOU
HAST GIVEN UNTO ME. GOD'S ELECT, HE HAS ALL POWER
IN HEAVEN AND EARTH TO GIVE SALVATION UNTO HIS PEOPLE. GOD IN HIMSELF
HAS GOT OUR SAVIOR ALL WISDOM TO DIRECT YOU many men lack wisdom
let him ask of God to give us to all men the Lord Jesus Christ
in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge he's
made unto us what our wisdom he has all WISDOM TO DIRECT US
AND GUIDE US. AND WE NEED INSTRUCTION. WE NEED
WISDOM. WE NEED TO BE LED BY THE ALL-WISE,
ALL-MIGHTY GOD. GOD OUR SAVIOR HATH IN HIMSELF
ALL MERCY TO PARDON YOU. YOU NEED PARDON? I DO. YOU NEED
MERCY? I DO. MERCY IS IN HIS HAND. I WANT TO SEEK MERCY WHERE IT'S
FOUND. It's of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed. He's
plenteous in redemption. Look to Him. God our Savior hath
all power in Himself to save you. God hath in Himself all
grace and fullness to enrich you. Remember John said, in Him,
John the Baptist said, in Him dwells all the fullness of God
and of His fullness HAVE WE ALL RECEIVED GRACE FOR GRACE? YOU NEED GRACE TO HELP IN TIME
OF NEED? LOOK TO HIM. I COMMEND YOU TO HIM. RUN TO
HIM. LOOK TO HIM. GO TO HIM. GOD OUR
SAVIOR HATH IN HIMSELF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS TO CLOTHE YOU. I NEED A ROBE
OF SALVATION. I NEED THE GARMENT OF SALVATION,
THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THAT IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
WHO IS THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. GOD OUR SAVIOR HATH IN HIMSELF
ALL GOODNESS TO SUPPLY YOU. THE LORD IS GOOD. IT SAYS THAT
IN THE WORD OF GOD. THE LORD IS LOVE. THE LORD IS
GREAT. THE LORD IS ALMIGHTY. THE LORD
IS GOOD. HE HATH ALL GOODNESS IN HIMSELF
TO SUPPLY YOU. MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR
NEED. According to his riches in glory
through the Lord Jesus Christ God our Savior hath in himself
all happiness and glory to crown you To crown you When the chief shepherds
shall appear you shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth
not away the Apostle Paul writes from death row, and he said,
I've fought a good fight, I've kept the faith, henceforth there's
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord shall give me,
not to me only, but to all them that love his appearance. WE
HAVE THE CROWN OF LIFE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST, OUR GREAT AND GOOD SHEPHERD, HE CARES FOR THE SHEEP. HE BOUGHT
THEM SO MUCH. HE CARES FOR THEM SO MUCH, AS
WE READ IN VERSE 28, THAT HE BOUGHT US WITH HIS OWN BLOOD,
HIS OWN BLOOD, PRECIOUS BLOOD. HE REDEEMED US AND HE'LL CARE
FOR US. HE'LL CARE FOR US. THE LORD IS
MY SHEPHERD, DAVID SAID, I SHALL NOT WANT FOR ANYTHING NOW OR
FOREVER. HE GIVES ALL GRACE NOW AND GLORY
FOREVER. CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM,
PETER WRITES, CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM, FOR HE CARETH
FOR YOU. HE DIED TO PUT AWAY YOUR SIN. HE CARES FOR YOU. BRETHREN, I
COMMEND YOU TO GOD. The steps of a believer are ordered
of the Lord. The steps of a good man are ordered
by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. We don't live by
reckless fate or blind fate, do we? We don't live by fickle
chance, do we? We don't live by lady luck or
misfortune. Our steps are subject to the
divine decrees of God, not mother nature, not lady luck, not misfortune,
not blind faith, not fickle chance. Our steps are ordered of God.
That gives me comfort, doesn't it, you? In whom we have an inheritance,
in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sin, according to the riches of his grace. And then he says,
in whom we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according
to the purpose of Him who works all things out of the counsel
of His own will. You can rest in His promises. They are certain and sure order
than all things. Our lives are graciously ordained
of God to believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's
not any accident that you bumped into the gospel. Every sinner
God saves, He saves on purpose. God's purpose and grace given
us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Remember, we studied
in Acts 13, 48, as many as were ordained to eternal life believed
the gospel. There is no such thing as free
will in this life. MEN ARE DEAD IN SIN, AND GOD
MUST QUICKEN THEM OF HIS OWN WILL, BEGAT HE US WITH THE WORD
OF TRUTH. OUR LIVES ARE FIXED, SETTLED,
MAINTAINED, ORDERED IN ALL THINGS, AND SURE BY OUR GRACIOUS GOD
AND SAVIOR. BRETHREN, I COMMEND YOU TO GOD. YOU SEE WHAT HE'S SAYING HERE?
YOU SEE, WE'RE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION. IF THIS WERE MY LAST MESSAGE
TO YOU, AND IT MAY BE, I DON'T KNOW, I MAY DROP DEAD TOMORROW. I COMMEND YOU TO GOD. LOOK TO
HIM TO PROVIDE ALL THINGS IN SALVATION. AND, YOU SEE THAT
WORD? AND THE WORD OF HIS GRACE. which is able to build you up
and you mean there's more to give you an inheritance among
all them that are sanctified now let's look at those things
for just a moment or two i commend you to the word of his grace
THE WORD OF HIS GRACE IS THE SAME THAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 24,
FOR I RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS TO TESTIFY OF THE GOSPEL OF THE
GRACE OF GOD. THE WORD OF HIS GRACE IS THE
SAME AS THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD, WHERE HE SAYS, I HAVE
NOT SHUNNED OR DECLARED YOU ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD, WHICH IS
ALL THE WORD OF GOD. THE WORD OF HIS GRACE Aren't
you glad it's not a word of His wrath, the word of His judgment
toward us? It's the word of His grace. It's
the word of His love toward His people, the word of His grace.
Paul says this again. Turn back to Acts chapter 14
one more time and look at verse 1. Acts 14 verse 1. He said this before. Acts 14,
1. And it came to pass in Iconium,
that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews,
and so spake that a great multitude, both Jews and also the Greeks,
believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred
up the Gentiles and made their minds evil, affected against
the brethren. Long time, therefore, abode they,
speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the
word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders. TO BE DONE
BY THEIR HANDS, THE WORD OF HIS GRACE. AND WE KNOW WHENEVER WE
SEE THE WORD GRACE, WE CAN ALWAYS ADD TO IT SOVEREIGN GRACE, FREE
GRACE. THE WORD OF HIS GRACE IS THE
WORD OF HIS POWER, THE POWER OF HIS GRACE. THE WORD OF GOD
IS QUICK AND POWERFUL, SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD. THE
WORD OF HIS GRACE IS THE WORD OF POWER, THE WORD OF POWER. THE WORD OF HIS GRACE IS THE
POWER OF THE GOSPEL. THAT'S THE POWER OF GOD UNTO
SALVATION. IT'S THE SAME AS THE WORD OF
GOD. THE WORD OF GRACE IS THE SAME AS THE WORD OF GOD. IT'S
THE SAME AS THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD. IN ROMANS 10, VERSE
8, IT'S CALLED THE WORD OF FAITH WHICH WE PREACH. IN EPHESIANS
1, VERSE 13, IT'S CALLED THE WORD OF TRUTH BY WHICH YOU BELIEVE. In Hebrews 5, verse 13, it's
called the word of righteousness that you've been justified by.
In 2 Corinthians 5, 19, it's called the word of reconciliation.
Namely, to wit, God was in Christ, reconciling us unto himself. In Acts 13, turn over there,
Acts 13, 26. Acts 13, 26, it's called here the word of salvation. And men and brethren, Acts 13,
26, men and brethren, the children of the stock of Abraham, whosoever
among you feareth God, to you is the word of salvation sent. That's the gospel message of
Jesus Christ. This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptation, that the Lord Jesus Christ came to
save sinners. So it's the word written, inspired,
God-given, And it's the Word that's also the Word incarnate,
the living Word, our Lord Jesus Christ. His Word, it's the Word
was with God. In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word
was made flesh and dwelt among us. It's the Word of His grace.
For it is people, for by grace are you saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God. His name in
Revelation 19, his name is called the Word of God. The Word of
God. Now what is this Word of God
able to do? Well, God tries the best he can
to save you, but you won't let him. That's another God. That's not the word of his grace.
That's another gospel and that's another God. This word of God
that Paul commended these brethren to, the word of his grace, which
is able, God's able to save his people to the uttermost that
come to God by him. The word of his grace is able
to, look what he says there, to build you up. To build you
up. Not puff you up with pride. The
grace of God is meant to humble us, but this grace of God in
Christ is able to cause us to grow in grace and in the knowledge
of the Lord Jesus Christ. This word of his grace is able
to build you up. He builds us up upon the foundation
that he has laid. What is the foundation that we
are built upon? Remember we studied in 1 Corinthians
chapter 3, other foundation can no man lay than that which is
laid which is Christ the Lord. God is able to cause us to be
rooted and grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ, that foundation. Remember what he said to Peter?
Upon this rock I build my church, upon this rock, and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it. He is the rock of ages. We as believers are built upon
the foundation that God has supplied for us. He said, behold, I lay
in Zion for a foundation of stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone. He that believes upon that foundation
shall be built up. You see what he's saying there?
I commend you to God, the God who is God, the God who is absolute
sovereign God, able to save, to the word of his grace, the
gospel of his grace, which is able to build you up, able to
build you up. Now, if you look up that word,
what God is able to do, here's what we read in the scripture.
The grace of God is able to save you and to preserve you and to
present you faultless before the presence of God's joy, presence
of God with exceeding joy. He's able to keep us from falling
and to present us faultless. The grace of God is able to raise
you up and change our vile bodies fashion like unto his glorious
body. He's gonna change his vile body
in that resurrection morning, that glorious morning. Who's
able to do that? To take that dust in the ground
there for thousands of years and raise it from the dead to
be just like the Lord Jesus Christ. Now who's able to do that? Wow,
you talk about power. God is able to raise us up from
the dead and to give us life. God is able to perform, Romans
4 says, God is able to perform for us all that he has promised. Who's able to do this? Like Abraham,
we're fully persuaded that all that God has promised, and he's
promised a whole lot, exceeding great and precious promises.
All the promises of God in him are yes, and in him, amen. All
the things that he has promised, he's able to perform. His grace is able to save them
to the uttermost that come to God by Him. So brethren, I commend
you to God. I commend you to the word of
His grace. The word of His grace, the gospel
of His grace is able to save you and able to build you up.
And then, and, you mean there's more, to give you and inheritance among
all them that are sanctified." To give us an inheritance? Yes,
we have an inheritance in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me read
it to you. I've read this to you many times.
I'll just read it to you. 1 Peter chapter 1. Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to
his abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a living hope,
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance
incorruptible, undefiled, that fades on away, reserved in heaven
for you who are kept by the power of God unto salvation, ready
to be revealed in that last day. I've got more. Colossians chapter
one says this, giving thanks, unto the Father, who hath made
us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
Christ, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, translated
us into the kingdom of God's dear Son." I've got more. In Romans 8, he says this, The Spirit himself beareth witness
with our spirit that we are children of God, and of children and heirs
of God, and joint heirs with Christ. It so be that we have
suffered with him, that we may be also glorified together with
him." Heirs of God and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have an inheritance given unto us. God who spared not his own son,
but delivered them up for us all, how shall he not with him
also freely give us all things to the word of his grace, able
to build you up, to give you inheritance? And then it says
this in the last part of verse 32, among all them that are sanctified,
you mean this, this, all this just belong to those people who
are sanctified? Well, How do I get sanctified? Every believer in the Lord Jesus
Christ is called a saint. We are sanctified in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Now, look this up. I've never
done this before. I looked this up. How many times
believers in the New Testament are called saints? 60 times. 60 times he called believers Saints
For example to all that be in Rome beloved of God called Saints
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord
Jesus Christ now the question How am I sanctified? Well, you're
not sanctified by what you do. You're not sanctified by what
you don't do. You're not sanctified by your
morality. I'm all in on morality, but my
morality is not sanctification. Christ is our sanctification. We don't have such a thing called,
and people talk about, we're progressively sanctified. BELIEVERS ARE NOT GROWING MORE
HOLY. BELIEVERS IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,
THEY ARE IN HIM SANCTIFIED. HE'S OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE'S
OUR SANCTIFICATION. FOR BY THE ONE OFFERING HATH
HE PERFECTED FOREVER THEM THAT ARE SANCTIFIED. OUR LORD PRAYED
IN JOHN 17, SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH. THY WORD IS TRUTH. Christ is made unto us, but of
him are you in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us, what? Wisdom,
righteousness, oh, sanctification, and our redemption. You see,
in Christ we have all things. He's freely provided for us all
things. Among them which are sanctified,
you are sanctified in Christ. Well, I don't feel sanctified,
good. because God saves sinners, and
he sanctifies them in Christ. Now, I've given this to you before,
I'll give this to you in closing. We're sanctified by God the Father,
in Jude chapter one, Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and
brother James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father,
preserved in Christ Jesus. Sanctified by God the Father,
that is set apart in God, electing grace and electing love from
all eternity. AND THEN IT SAYS IN I CORINTHIANS
2-2 WE'RE SANCTIFIED BY GOD THE SON. AND TO THE CHURCH OF GOD
WHICH IS AT CORINTH TO THEM THAT ARE SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS
CALLED SAINTS. YOU'RE A SAINT IN CHRIST. AND THEN SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY
SPIRIT. God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit. 2 Thessalonians 2, 13, we are
bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved
of the Lord, because God has, from the beginning, chosen you
to salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit, which leads to
what? Belief in the truth. Weren't
you? He called you by our gospel.
Peter said this, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, under obedience
and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace unto you
and peace be multiplied. Now, I commend you to God. If this
was my last message, my last word to you, I commend you to
God. and through the word of his grace,
which is able to build you up, to give you inheritance among
all them that are sanctified in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.