Now, we're turning to Acts chapter
20, verse 32 will be my text. Acts
20, 32. And now, brethren, I commend
you, I give you to God. He's saying, I'm leaving, you're
going to see my face no more, and I'm pointing you to God,
who is God. And not only that, to the word
of His grace. To the word of His grace. His grace. His sovereign mercy in Christ
Jesus. And He says, which is able. Able. God is able. God is able
to do all things according to His own purpose and will. God
is able. He's able to build you up, able
to save you, able to keep you, able to make us new creatures
in Christ Jesus. God is able. And furthermore, He says to give
you an inheritance. To give you an inheritance among
all them. All them have an inheritance.
And you know, all believers sanctified in Christ Jesus. They all have
the same inheritance. Same, it's equal. It's an equal inheritance and
it's Christ. He is our reward. He is our eternal inheritance. Now, Paul's final words to these
believers at Ephesus. They knew this is the last time
they see this beloved preacher of God's gospel. They knew that,
and Paul knew that he faced them for the last time. Now, if you
knew right now that this would be the last sermon that you'd
ever hear, would you sit up and pay a little bit closer attention?
If you knew today that this would be the last sermon you would
ever hear, would you listen a little bit closer? What if I knew right
now that this would be the last sermon that I'll ever preach?
And one day it will be. One day I'll preach the last
sermon. Would I preach it if I knew?
Would I preach it with a little more zeal, a little more fire,
a little more earnestness? Well, I hoped that I would. It
reminds me of two preachers of the past who said this concerning
this chapter, Robert Hawker. Some of you have some of his
commentary. He said this, he that preacheth
should preach as though it was his last sermon, and they who
hear as though they should hear no more. Another preacher of
the past named Richard Baxter said this, and I quoted this
at my dad's funeral out there in Salt Lake City amongst the
Mormon Chapel, which I stood and tried to declare the grace
of God in Christ Jesus best I could. I told him, I said, I preach
as one who may never preach again, and certainly I'll never preach
there again. Although I invited that Mormon
bishop to invite me back, but he never was interested. I preach
as one who may never preach again, said Richard Baxter. I preach
as a dying man, But I preach also unto dying men, who may
never hear again. So, take heed, listen. No wonder the Apostle James said,
Be swift to hear and slow to speak. We ought to be willing
and ready to hear God's gospel, His Word, His truth. Now, from verse 32, And now,
brethren, here's my word to you. This is my last sermon to you,
as far as I know. I may never be back again. The
Lord will and I will, but I don't know for sure what tomorrow holds. I may meet a Mack truck out here
on 23 going north, and I may never preach again here. But
that's in God's hand. But my word to you right now,
I could feel comfortable in my heart if I knew this was my last
sermon I could feel comfortable in my heart to give you the instruction
that the Apostle Paul gave these elders at Ephesus. I point you
to God. I commend you to God who is God. Beside Him there is no other. What better instruction could
any servant of God give unto believers than to point them
to the living God? The living and true God. This
word here where he says, I commend you, this word here means to
place with someone, to entrust them with someone, to commit
them to someone, and to put them near. I commend you to God who
is God. It's interesting, if you'll hold
your place there and find Luke 23, Luke 23. It's interesting that the last
words of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross, He uses this
same word here. In Luke chapter 23, look at verse
46. Luke 23, verse 46, And when Jesus
had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into thy hands
I commend my spirit. Having said thus, He gave up
the spirit. I commend you to God. Turn back over here to Acts chapter
14. Acts chapter 14, when Paul went
back and revisited some of those early places where he preached
in Lystra and Iconium and Antioch. In Acts 14 verse 22, confirming
the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith
that we must, through 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. My friend, I point you to God,
the Almighty Sovereign God who is God. I commend you to God
and to the Word of His grace. I commend you, I entrust you
and point you to God who is God our Savior. who is the only just
God and Savior, who is almighty to save. Now hold your place
there. He's almighty to save. Turn to Isaiah 63. He's almighty
to save. Isaiah 63, 1. He's able to save
to the uttermost all that come to God by Him, seeing He ever
liveth to make intercession for them. Isaiah 63, 1. I point you to God who is almighty
to save. Look what he says there, Isaiah
63, who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from
Bosra? This that is glorious in his
apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength, I that speak
in righteousness, mighty to save. He's mighty to save. I point
you to the one who has all salvation, all blessings in himself, in
Christ Jesus. Turn back to Isaiah 45. No wonder
the wise prophet instructed of God, says and writes as God writes
through him. He's the only just God and Savior. Verse 21 of Isaiah 45, Look unto
me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. I am God,
and there is no other. I have sworn by myself, the word
has gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that unto
me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear, Surely shall
one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength. Even to him shall
men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed
of Israel be justified and shall glory." I point you to God who
is God. He is God our Savior. I point you to Him who is Almighty
to save. Secondly, I commend you to God. who is not only Almighty to save,
but who is faithful to all of His promise. He's faithful to
all of His promise. Find Romans chapter 4. He's faithful
to all that He has promised. In Joshua 23, 14, if you want
to jot this down, Joshua 23, 14, the last words of Joshua,
he says this, speaking of all that God had promised Israel,
he said, there has not been one promise that failed that did
not come to pass. And that's true. Of all that
God has promised, exceeding great and precious promises, not one
jot or tittle has failed. Look what it says here in Romans
chapter 4. Speaking of Abraham, he staggered
not, verse 20, at the promise of God that was through unbelief,
that was strong in faith, strong faith giving glory to God, being
fully persuaded that what he had promised Boy, He's able. I point you to God who was able
to perform all things for us. He's able to perform all things
for us. As a matter of fact, He's performed
all salvation for us. Don't turn. Let me just read
this Psalm to you here. In Psalm 57, verse 2, I'll cry
unto God Most High, unto God that performeth all things for
me. That's good news. I point you
to God who is almighty to save. I commend you to Him who is almighty
to save, who is faithful to all of His promise. I point you to
God who is merciful. He delights to show mercy. Find Exodus chapter 33. Exodus
chapter 33. I point you to God who is merciful. Exodus 33. For all that Moses
had seen in the mighty power and working of God, he stood
and watched the Red Sea divide. And God said, Stand still and
behold the salvation of God. But he says this, Lord, show
me your glory. Exodus 33, 17. Verse 18, he said, I beseech
thee, Lord, show me your glory. And he said, I will make All
my goodness pass before thee. I will proclaim the name of the
Lord before thee. I will be gracious to whom I
will be gracious. I and will show mercy on whom
I will show mercy. There is sovereign mercy, but
my friend, he said, I will show mercy. You know, God's greatest
glory, when Moses asked him, Lord, show me your glory. God's
greatest glory is my greatest need. I need mercy. I need mercy. Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy. God saved us. I point you to God who is almighty
to save. I point you to this One who is
faithful to all of His promise. Not one jot or tale of His Word
will fail. I point you to God who is merciful. I will have mercy. Do you need
mercy? I do. My friend, I'm a mercy
beggar at the throne of God's grace. I point you to the one
who is the God of all grace. Turn over here to 1 Peter 5.
I am God, beside me there is none
other. 1 Peter chapter 5. I point you
to the one who is the God of all grace. Look what he says
right here. 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 10. But
the God of all grace who hath called us unto His eternal glory
by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you
perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you to Him, be glory and
dominion forever and ever. Amen. He is a God of all grace. This is the one to whom I point
you to this afternoon. The God of all grace, who is
able to supply all our need according to His riches in glory through
Christ Jesus. Now turn to this Scripture. Philippians
chapter 4, who is able to supply all our
need. You know I'm a needy creature.
Do you realize that you're a needy creature? You have need of mercy,
need of forgiveness, you have need of a righteousness, you
have need of pardon, forgiveness, redemption, deliverance, all
these things. And we can't meet our need. But the good news of the gospel
is that He gives us all we need to stand before Him justified. And notice how this is written.
Philippians 4, 19. Philippians 4, 19. Now oftentimes
this verse is quoted wrong. But notice what it says here.
This is a God that Paul says, I commend you to. My God shall
supply all your need. Notice that singular. All my
need is wrapped up in Christ. Everything I need is Christ.
According to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus the Lord. He's able to meet all our need. Able to supply abundantly. abundantly supply all our needs. He is Jehovah Jireh. Who is Jehovah
Jireh? You remember the story in Genesis
chapter 22 when God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and he laid
Isaac out on the altar and raised the knife and about to take his
son's life and God stayed his hand and said, Now I know you
believe me. You have not withheld thy son. And God stayed his hand and provided
a substitute. That ram caught in the thicket.
And he said, My God is Jehovah Jireh. He will provide. I tell you who was glad for the
substitute that day. Isaac and Abraham. Oh, I tell
you. Thank God for the gospel of substitution. God made him sin for us. The
just dying for the unjust. that we might be brought unto
God, able to supply all our needs. I point you to this One who is
God, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Sidcanu, the Lord our Righteousness. I point you to this One. I commend
you to God who is all-powerful and sovereign to keep. Turn to
I Peter chapter 1. He is almighty to keep. You see,
He doesn't save us by His grace and then turn us loose to keep
ourselves. That's Tommy Rot. That's Tomfoolery. God saves us. That's the old
English term. That's the old English preachers,
what they called Tomfoolery. Kind of hit close to me because
that's my name. But I hope I can tell you the
truth as it is in Christ Jesus and not Tomfoolery. But we are
kept by the power of God. First Peter chapter 1. First
Peter chapter 1 verse 5. It says, I commend you to God
who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation,
ready to be revealed at the last time. I commend you to God who
is able to save, and my friend, He's able to keep you from falling.
And not only that, but to present you faultless before the presence
of His glory with exceeding joy. I point you to this One who is
God. I commend you to God who has
all wisdom to direct us. You need direction? I do. Turn to Psalm 37. We need direction. We need wisdom. God has all wisdom
to direct us. James the Apostle said, if any
man lack wisdom, and we do, let him despair. No, let him ask
God, who gives generously to his people. Notice, if you will,
Psalm 37. God who has all wisdom to direct
us, Psalm 37, look at verse 23. You see verse 23? The steps of a righteous man
are ordered of God. He has all wisdom to direct us.
There is no reckless fate here. No fickle chance rules the life
of a believer. Our every step is a subject of
God's divine decree. All our life is graciously ordained
in His loving kindness. All is settled, fixed, and maintained. No wonder Paul said, and we know.
Sometimes I wonder if we really do. And we know, we say these
things, I wonder if we really believe it. And we know that
all things work together for good. How about when you're flat
on your back, body eaten up with cancer? Can you say, we know
that all things work together for good to them who love God,
to them who are the called according to God's purpose? Can we say
it then? We say it now. Do we believe it? I pray that
we do. All things are ordered of God
for His glory and our good. Now, my friend, I commend you
to God. I commend you to God. This is
good instruction. Back to the text. Acts 20. Have you got your place there?
Number 2. Furthermore, he said, I commend
you to the word of His grace. You see verse 32? I commend you
to God And then I commend you to the Word of His grace. What is the Word of His grace?
I believe it's twofold. It's His written Word. His written
Word is the Word of His grace. The Word of His grace. The Gospel
of God's grace. The Gospel of God concerning
Christ. Back to Acts chapter 14. Look at this here. We see
this similar statement here. Acts 14 verse 1. He said, I,
and it came to pass in Iconium, Acts 14, 1, that they went both
together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a
great multitude, both of Jews and also of Greeks, believed.
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their
minds evil-affected against the gospel, against the brethren.
Long time, therefore, abode they speaking boldly in the Lord,
which gave testimony unto the word of His grace." You see that? of His grace. It's the same as,
turn to 1 Thessalonians 2 verse 13. The word of His grace is
the gospel of His grace. The gospel of God concerning
the Lord Jesus Christ. It's synonymous with this, 1
Thessalonians chapter 2. It's called here the word of
God. The word of God. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse
13. For this cause also thank we
God without ceasing, because when you receive the Word of
God, we receive the Word of God, which
you heard of us, you receive it not as the Word of men, but
as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh
also in you that believe it, receive it, rejoice in it. The
Gospel of God, the Word of His grace, is synonymous with the
Word of God. Faith come by hearing, and hearing
by the Word of God, the message of God. It's the same as what
Paul says over here in Romans 10. Turn over there. Romans chapter
10. I commend you to God and to the
Word of His grace. The Word of His grace. The same
as the Word of God. It's the same as the Word of
Faith. Romans 10. Look at verse 4. For Christ is
the end of the law, for righteousness to everyone that believeth. He's
a fulfillment of it. Our Lord said, I didn't come
to destroy the law, I came to fulfill it. For Moses describeth
the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth
those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is
of faith speaketh this way, say not in your heart, who shall
ascend to heaven? That is to bring Christ down from above.
Or who shall descend into the deep? That is to bring up Christ
again from the dead. But what saith it? The word of
faith. But what saith it? That is the righteousness which
is of faith speaketh this way. The word is nigh thee even in
thy mouth, in thy heart. That is the word of faith which
we preach. The word of faith. Without faith
it's impossible to please God. True saving faith that's born
of the Word of God points us to the Lord Jesus Christ, who
is the author and finisher of our faith. Now find Ephesians
chapter 1. It's the same. This Word of His
grace is the same as the Word of God, the Word of faith. It's
called here in Ephesians chapter 1, the Word of Truth. The Word
of Truth that points us to Christ who is truth personified. Ephesians chapter 1, look at
verse 13, "...in whom you also trusted after you heard the word
of..." What? Truth. You heard the word of
truth. The truth about God, the truth
about sin, the truth about salvation, the truth about Christ, His work,
the gospel of your salvation, "...in whom also after you believed
you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." It's the
Word of Truth. Our Lord said, you shall know
the truth and the truth shall set you free. The Word of Truth. Not only that, it's the same
as the Word of Righteousness that's talked about and written
about in Hebrews chapter 5. Don't turn. But this Gospel of
His grace and the Word of His grace tells us how God can be
just and justify the ungodly. How God by His sovereign grace
imputes, gives, reckons righteousness to us without works. It's the
Word of His righteousness. It's the Word of reconciliation
as well. Turn over here to II Corinthians 5. Synonymous with
the Word of His grace. The Word of His grace. It's the
Word of God. It's the Word of truth. It's the Word of faith.
It's the word of righteousness. It's the word of reconciliation.
II Corinthians 5, look at verse 19, "...to wit..." To wit means
namely that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself,
"...not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed
unto us the word of reconciliation." God was in Christ, reconciling
us unto Himself. What happened in Adam? Separation. What happened in Christ, crucified?
Reconciliation. He is the mediator of that covenant.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did
beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled
to God. Upon this foundation, verse 21,
God made him sin for us. Those words to be are added,
God made him sin for us. who knew no sin, that we might
be made the righteousness of God in Him." This is the Word
of reconciliation. This is the Word of His grace.
I commend you to His Word! The Word of God written. And
it's the Word of His salvation. Turn to Acts 13, 26. Acts 13,
26. It's the Word of salvation. How shall we escape if we neglect
so great salvation? It's appointed unto men once
to die after that judgment. But in Christ Jesus, there is
no condemnation to those who are in Him. In Acts 13, the first
sermon that the Apostle Paul had liberty to preach in verse
26 of Acts 13, notice he said, "...men and brethren, children
of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God,
to you is the word of this salvation sent." I want to hear that. I want to hear the Word of God's
salvation, how there's salvation in no other than Christ Himself. So it is a written Word that
Paul says, I commend you to the Word of His grace, the Word of
truth, the Word of God, the Word of righteousness, the Word of
reconciliation, the Word of salvation. And then secondly, it is a Word,
the living Word, the incarnate Word. Turn to John chapter 1.
Not only the written, inspired, God-given Word, but also, I commend
you to the Word of His grace. Through the Word of His grace.
The Gospel of God's grace revealed in Christ Jesus. He is the Word
of God's grace. Look at John 1, 14. And the Word,
notice capital W-O-R-D. The Word was made flesh. Who
is this Word? Verse 1 says, "...in the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,
the same was in the beginning with God. And the Word was made
flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory
as of the own begotten of the Father." Now watch this, full
of grace and truth. Now read on, look at verse 15,
don't leave me here. John bare witness of him, and
cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake. He that cometh
after me is preferred before me, for he is before me." He
is the eternal Christ. Now look at this, verse 16, "...of
his fullness have we, have all we received grace for grace."
Now what's he saying there? The only reason for grace is
grace. Grace because of grace. And it's
because of His fullness that we have grace. Through the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved. This is the word of
His grace. I commend you to the word of His grace, the Lord Jesus. For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. In Him dwelleth all the
fullness of a Godhead bodily. Can we find that? Where is that
at? Colossians 2, turn over there. Colossians 2, verse 9 and 10. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness
of a Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him. Complete. Nothing need be added. Christ is made unto us wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He's everything
to the believer. And we are complete in Him. This is the word of His grace.
I commend you to God. See what He's saying here? Now
look back at the text again. Here's my third point. I commend
you to God. I give you to God who is God.
I appoint you to Him. I am not shunned in declaring
to you all the counsel of God concerning God's revealed will
in salvation. How that Christ Jesus came into
this world to save sinners of whom I am the chief one. He came
to save me. I commend you to God. I commend
you to the word of His grace. The testimony of the gospel of
the grace of God. And then thirdly, he says this,
which is able. God is able, His grace is able
to build you up. Not puff you up with pride. Not to exalt the flesh and to
cause you to grow in self-righteousness, but able to build you up. This
Word of His grace We are to desire the sin-seer milk of the Word
that we might grow thereby. The Word of God nourishes our
soul, strengthens us inwardly. He's able to build you up, to
give you confidence and assurance. In who? In yourself? No, able
to build you up and give you confidence and assurance in Christ
our Lord, our Savior. that make you rooted and grounded
and build up in Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
building. He is the building. Let me say
this, the Lord Jesus Christ, the church of the Lord Jesus
Christ, we are His creation. We are of His making. He made
us. We are His workmanship created
in Christ Jesus. He's able to build you up. Turn
over here to 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians chapter 3. The church of the Lord Jesus
Christ is His creation. It's His building. He's able
to build us up. He's able to put us in the building
and to maintain us and to cause us to grow in grace and in the
knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians chapter 3, look
at verse 9. We are laborers together with
God. You are God's building. You are God's tillage. We are
that good ground prepared by God. And we are God's building. Our Lord said, I'll build my
church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against that. We are of His making, His doing. He's able to build us up, put
us on the foundation, the Lord Jesus alone. Turn to I Peter
chapter 2. The word of His gospel, the Lord
Jesus is able to build you up. give you confidence and assurance
in Christ Jesus, to give you a real true hope. Not a flimsy,
I hope, I hope, I hope, but a good hope through grace in Christ
Jesus. You are of His building, His
making, His creation. I Peter 2. I Peter 2, look at
verse 5. Look at verse 3. I Peter 2, 3.
If so, you've tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming,
as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of
God and precious, you also, as living stones, are built up a
spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Now watch this. Wherefore also
it's contained in Scripture, in Isaiah 28, Behold, I lay in
Zion a chief cornerstone, elect and precious, He that believeth
on Him shall not be confounded, shall not be ashamed, will never
be forced to flee from this foundation. Unto you therefore which believe,
He is precious. You see, my friend, the Gospel
of God's grace saves us to the uttermost, but also establishes
us in the way of grace in Christ Jesus. Don't turn, but let me
just read this Scripture to you. This is found in Hebrews 13. Look what it says right here.
Hebrews 13, 8, Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever,
be not carried about with divers and strains doctrine, for it
is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, with
grace, not with meats which have not profited them that have occupied
their end. So it's a good thing that we
be established with works, With what? Grace. Grace and grace
alone. The grace of God and this grace
of God and this God of grace. The grace of God and the God
of grace is able to build you up and establish you and give
you confidence in Christ Jesus. And then lastly it says this,
to give you an inheritance. To give you an inheritance and
make you an heir of God. Now here's the fourth point.
His Word, His Gospel, the Lord Himself is fully able and willing
to give His people, this church bought with His blood, sanctified
by the Spirit of God, sanctified by His power, by the one offering,
you're all sanctified by that one offering in Christ Jesus,
His blood, His grace, it's His grace who has made us to differ,
and to give you an inheritance. To give you an inheritance. This
is the inheritance of grace. The old timers call it the whole
inheritance of grace in Christ Jesus. Not obtained by the works
of the law, is it? By the deeds of the law shall
no flesh be justified. Not obtained by the industry
of the flesh, but wholly it's the inheritance of grace. Now
back, something about this inheritance that you're going to be interested
in. Hebrews chapter 9. Turn back over there. I'll give
you four things about this inheritance of grace. Hebrews chapter 9. Hebrews chapter 9. Look at verse
15. For this cause, He is the mediator
of the new covenant, that by means of death, verse 15, Hebrews
9, for the redemption of transgression that were under the first testament,
that they which are called might receive the promise of eternal. We have an eternal inheritance. It's not something that's temporary.
It's not something that wears out. It's not something that
at one time will be diminished. It's an eternal inheritance that
we have in Christ Jesus. Not only that, it's eternal,
but it's incorruptible. Turn back to 1 Peter chapter
1. It's incorruptible. It's incorruptible. This is the
whole inheritance of grace that He freely gives. God who spared
not His own Son, but delivered Him for us all, how shall He
not with Him also freely, freely give us all things? I Peter chapter
1, verse 3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten
us again to a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead. Now, what does that say there?
What kind of inheritance is that? To inheritance incorruptible,
undefiled, that fades not away, that's reserved in glory for
you. He gives us all grace now and
all glory hereafter. So, it's an eternal inheritance.
It's an incorruptible inheritance. God is able to build you up,
and to give you an inheritance. That's what I need. In Adam,
I lost everything. In Adam, sin abounded. In Christ,
grace does much more abound in Him. Turn to Romans 8. Romans
8. This is a glorious inheritance.
And you know what? There's equality here in this
inheritance. It's the inheritance not of works. It's the inheritance of grace.
Romans chapter 8. Christ is our inheritance. Christ is our reward. Romans
8. Look at verse 14. For as many as be led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received
the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the
spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father, dear Father. The Spirit Himself beareth witness
with our spirit that we are children of God. Beloved and heir are
we sons of God. And if children then heirs, heirs
of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon,
this is what I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be
revealed in us." It's a glorious inheritance. And we're all glorified
together. in Christ Jesus, glorified together
in the heavenlies in Christ. We're all blessed with all spiritual
blessing. All believers are blessed with
all spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Now, to this inheritance, now
look at this here. Turn to Colossians chapter 1.
This inheritance is eternal. It's incorruptible. There's equality
in it. It's a glorious inheritance.
Who has made us fit? Who has made us qualified for
this inheritance? Look what it says here. Colossians
chapter 1, giving thanks, verse 12. Oh, we give thanks. Give
thanks unto the Father who has made us meet, and that word there
is fit, to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
light, in Christ. who hath delivered us from the
power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear
Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness
of sins. We give thanks to the Father
who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints
in Christ Jesus." And it's all, turn back a few pages to Ephesians
chapter 1, and it's all according to his own Purpose this inheritance
we have that's eternal incorruptible glorious and He's made us fit. It's all by his purpose notice
Ephesians chapter 1 Look verse 10 that is in dispensations of
the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things
in Christ both which are in heaven which are on the earth even in
him in whom also we have obtained Now notice what it says there.
We have obtained. It doesn't say we've earned.
It doesn't say we've observed. We deserve this. We've obtained
an inheritance. Being predestinated according
to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel
of His own will, that we should be to the praise of His glory
who first trusted in Christ. In this same chapter, look at
verse 17, Ephesians 1, 17, "...that the God," he prays for them,
"...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Him, that the eyes of your understanding may be
enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling,
and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."
and what is exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe
according to the working of His mighty power." Now look back
at the text again. And now, brethren, I commend
you to God. I commend you to the Word of
His grace, written, living, the living Word and the Word preached.
I commend you to that Word. And this God and His grace and
His Word is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified. Who are those that are sanctified?
Turn to John chapter 10. Sanctified by God the Father? John chapter 17 is what I want. John 17. Look what he says here. sanctify them through Thy truth,
Thy Word is truth." It's the truth that set us free in Christ
Jesus. I pray the Lord to bless that
Word, the gospel of His grace. Bless that to our encouragement and to increase
our faith in Christ Jesus.