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We're going to get another great glimpse of heavenly worship. We just got a great glimpse of heavenly worship in Revelation 5 and now we're going to follow that up with another one and we're going to follow that up in Revelation chapter 7 as we focus on a particular phrase in Revelation chapter 7 verse 10, but let's go ahead and read verses 9 and 10.
After this I looked and behold a great multitude that no one could number from every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages standing before the throne and Before the Lamb clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice.
Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. Now that is a magnificent declaration. Salvation belongs to The Lamb.
That's what we're going to focus on this final session what it means what the significance is of salvation. Belonging to the Lamb the Lord Jesus Christ. What does it mean? What does it mean for salvation to belong to Jesus to belong to the Lamb?
And we're going to answer that question in six different ways. Number one, what does it mean for salvation to belong to the Lamb? It belongs to the Lamb by Eternal decree. It belongs to him by Eternal decree.
If something belongs to you you possess it, right? If something belongs to you, it is yours. It's in your possession. You possess it. And what's amazing here in this passage and in the book of Revelation and in all of God's scripture.
It's amazing that it is something Jesus possesses. Salvation is something he possesses. But he's been possessing it if you will by design and purpose for a long long long long long long time. It has been belonging to Jesus from eternity past.
So when we hear the worthiness of the Lamb because salvation belongs to him I Think it's important and fitting to remember that it's been belonging to him from eternity past. Oh Yes, he had to come to earth.
Oh, yes, he had to do certain things while he was here and we'll talk about those things. But we have to remember that all of that was according to decree. Eternal decree theologians say from eternity past even in our in our book the book of Revelation chapter 22 verse 13 Jesus is called as you all say here the Alpha and the Omega.
He's the eternal one. He is the eternal one and from eternity past he's been in route to come here to perfectly fully save a Part of his great plan and purpose the plan and purpose of the triune God now I certainly think it's fitting for us to be in the at the end of The Canon in Revelation to focus there some but realize that there's so much that's been aiming toward and Anticipating and and moving toward that great final conclusion.
And so I do want to look at a couple of other passages outside of Revelation specifically Ephesians chapter 1 would be Important text to learn about what the salvation is that belongs to the Lamb by eternal decree.
Also 2nd Timothy 1 9 I'll reference in Ephesians chapter 3. But if you just want to turn to Ephesians 1 and let's see some of the background of salvation Belonging to the Lamb and to realize it's been belonging to him for a long long time.
As you're turning to Ephesians 1 listen to these words from 2nd Timothy 1 9. He saved us and called us to a holy calling not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and Grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.
I Love to hear that in part because it's something I can't comprehend. But also in part because it makes me realize that salvation is even more magnificent than I even imagined than I would have ever imagined and and it helps me understand just how Great it is to have salvation Belonging to the Lamb and that's why I've been saying in this message so far.
It's been belonging to him so Paul can say before the ages began we might say in Eternity past it belonged to him because it's part of an eternal decree. When you first become a Christian typically it's not always the case but 99 of the time you had no idea.
You hadn't you it was. You didn't have any kind of category for this. You know, I have decided to follow Jesus is kind of how we all look at it. And then the more you read the Bible you you start by thinking Jesus is a great Savior.
You start on that good and right track, but the more you realize and the more, you know, the more you read the scripture. It blows your mind all the more before the ages began. The Ephesians chapter 3 verse 11 says according to the eternal purpose according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord and then that Great great text Ephesians 1 where we see if we were to look at the whole thing.
We would see the Predestinating plan of the Father and we'd see the applying work of the Spirit. And we would see the redeeming work of the Son and how this has been planned and purposed. Long before you were born long before I was born this Salvation plan has been belonging to the Lamb.
Since eternity past but let's at least sample it because it's so magnificent and so mind-rocking. Hopefully worship inducing even how about verse 4 even as he chose us in him. That saving lamb before the foundation of the world.
That we should be holy and blameless before him in love. He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will. To the praise of his glorious grace with which he has blessed us in the beloved in him.
We have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. Which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will according to his Purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time.
To unite all things in him things in heaven and things on earth. Verse 11. It will end there in him we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined. According to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will salvation belongs to the Lamb and certainly according to decree and in anticipation of all his completed works on the earth.
It's been belonging to him for a long long long long long time. And so as you think about the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great salvation that he gives. Realize that it wasn't a plan B.
Realize it didn't start with you and your conversion realize it started. According to the triune God planning and purposing before the foundation of the world. Talk about worship inducing. Praise be to him praise be to the Lamb.
Salvation belongs to the Lamb. How impressive it is to consider him number two. What does it mean for salvation to belong to the Lamb? It belongs to the Lamb because he earned it. It belongs to the Lamb.
Because he earned it. When I read those words salvation Belongs to the Lamb. I Think of possession in another sense. It belongs to him because he secured it by his own works. It belongs to him because he earned it.
Let's look just back two chapters to the passage. We just heard preached in Revelation 5 9. It's a good emphasis there on his earning his. Read Redeeming work 5 9 says. And they sang a new song worthy.
Are you to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slain and by your? Blood there we go by your blood you ransomed people. For God from every tribe and language and people and nation Belongs to the Lamb he ransomed.
He is the one who saved by his own action. By his own deeds by his own efforting by his own works. I Know my brother well enough to know what he likes to say and I know that he likes to say to you for shock value.
Salvation is by Works isn't it? Salvation most certainly is by works. I love to say that to people and say true or false salvation is by works. And it's like a trick kind of question right because we say no salvation is by grace.
It's not of works so that no one may boast. No mere human being who's a sinner may boast. No one in this room may boast. But we're actually called to boast in Christ because salvation most certainly is by works.
Grace is not some kind of force from Star Wars Grace. God's free gift that wasn't free to him. It's free to us. It's not free to him the one thing that ever cost God anything. Only one thing ever cost him anything and that's the giving of his son and his son most certainly Saved us by his works, right?
Should be a no-brainer. It's good shock value. He did something. He did something glorious and an amazing and therefore Salvation belongs to him rightfully, so He didn't just think nice thoughts about us.
He did something. Romans 5 8 Christ died for us that's effort. Hebrews 12 to he endured the cross effort. Matthew 3 15 he Came to fulfill all righteousness. Salvation is by works friends the works of the Lamb.
How great and amazing is his love for us that he would do those works so that we might be acceptable before God. Oh indeed Salvation belongs to the Lamb. It's a tragedy. But this is controversial. This is a controversy shouldn't be controversial.
This one strikes close to home. I know people who say most certainly this isn't the case. Sadly in the church where I even pastor they're listening to a bad teacher. Saying that this isn't the case and we like to follow teachers.
We all do somebody saying well if the Bible teaches salvation by grace, and it's only by grace. And People ready to leave Omaha Bible Church because I'm saying salvation is by the works of Christ. We died for our sins.
He fulfilled all righteousness. Christians Protestants have never believed that somehow we're saved by some sort of force idea thought it's always by the works of Christ. Shorthand we might say it otherwise and we're certainly saying and clearly saying it's not by our works.
RC Sproul put it nicely. Ultimately the only way one can be justified is by works. We are indeed justified by works by the works that just but the works that justify us are the works of the second Adam.
To be justified by faith means to be justified by faith in the works of Christ. Our faith is not the ground of our justification. Faith serves as the instrument by which we receive the benefits of the works of Christ the sole ground of our justification.
I'm hearing that just Common biblical sense it makes me want to say as it says in Revelation 7 with a loud voice He's worthy. He did this for me according to his divine purpose not because I was worthy not because you were worthy.
But according to his eternal decree reaching back into eternity past for his own glory and praise. Ultimately he died for our sins. He lived for our righteousness. So that we might be justified before him.
Salvation belongs to the Lamb. Salvation belongs to him. Number three, what does it mean for salvation to belong to the Lamb? It belongs to the Lamb because he accomplished the otherwise Unaccomplishable.
He accomplished the otherwise Unaccomplishable. What would be? Unaccomplishable. What would be unaccomplishable? Well Salvation would be unaccomplishable. It's impossible and let's think about this for a second here.
We are Spiritually filthy in and of ourselves. I Need to be spiritually clean to be in the presence of the great and Holy King and so do you. But it can't be done. I'm in Adam. Even if for the rest of my life, I could do the the right thing, which I can't but even if I could need it.
Even if you could you what about all the past? It's impossible For us and then Jesus says things very clearly like in Matthew chapter 5 be perfect. Well, I'm in the red as it is. Be perfect. As your Heavenly Father is perfect the impossibility of salvation is what we're looking at.
The Lamb is The one whose salvation belongs to because he accomplishes the otherwise Unaccomplishable. Look with me again if you would at verse 9 of Revelation chapter 7 notice What's happening there notice those who are surrounding him?
They are standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Clothed in white robes. Clothed in white robes, that's an utter impossibility that kid that can't be. If that's emblematic that's symbolic of our of our spiritual cleanness that that just can't otherwise be unless salvation Belongs to the Lamb.
Verse 13 then one of the elders addressed me saying who are these clothed in white robes? Those are those are believers. Clothed in white robes how in the world could this happen? Book of Revelation uses a lot of things that are from Isaiah.
And so I'm going to use a little bit of the same rationale just to help us to appreciate this better. This is impossible. It's impossible for us to have those white robes or those tribulation saints to have those white robes apart from the Lamb who Owned salvation by his own efforts.
But just listen if you would to the rationale of Isaiah and why this would be impossible. Which should cause us to all the more loudly praise him the one who? Salvation belongs to. You know the passage probably if you've been in church more than twice or so.
Isaiah 64 6 We have all become like the one who is unclean spiritual uncleanness and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. Again, we know the answer but how in the world did these people get around the throne with white garments?
Because even all of our righteous deeds are our dirty garments, how could this be it can't be? Unless salvation belongs to the land. How about Isaiah 1. Isaiah 1 18 gives us some hope and then the rug is pulled out from under us.
Isaiah 1 18 come now let us reason together says the Lord though your sins are like scarlet. That's true. They shall be as white as snow. Oh, there's hope that's good though. They are red like crimson.
They shall become like wool, and there's that great Anticipation of hope there and Isaiah 1. But it's important that we keep listening or reading the very next verse verse 19 if you are willing and Obedient oh, no.
You shall eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel you shall be eaten by the sword for the mouth of the Lord has spoken verse 21 how the Faithful city or oh how the faithful city has become a whore the ESV says.
You know 118 all Cleansing scarlet turns to white. Yes. There's hope that I could have a clean karma and be acceptable before God if you do these things. Slays us as we know we're spiritually dirty because we don't keep the End of the bargain if you do these things.
Doesn't look promising. Unless something extraordinary happens unless the otherwise undoable is done by someone other than us and. And eventually we make our way to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53 verse 5, but he was pierced for our transgressions.
Our whoredom if you will. He was crushed for our iniquities. Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds We are healed. Now when I go back to Revelation chapter 7 just with a little bit of surveying in the book of Isaiah I go I get it now.
And you can say I get it, too white garments pure undefiled chaste ready. Welcomed in his presence not because we kept our end of the bargain. But because he the last Adam gave himself for us. Salvation belongs to him again.
That's why we don't say we did it. That's why we don't do mutual congratulations in heaven. That's why worthy is the Lamb. Salvation belongs to him from start to finish. It belongs to him. So we worship we worship.
He does the otherwise Undoable. Have you ever thought before or spent much time considering that salvation is impossible. It's utterly and entirely impossible. It can't be done apart from. Apart from someone else doing it for us by their own perfect actions.
I remember years ago Mike giving me a tape back in tape days and. And How many of you have ever heard of John Gershner? Anybody ever some number of enough of you have heard of John Gershner and he was like a mentor of RC Sproul's and a friend of RC Sproul's and I Don't know if he smoked like 16 packs of cigarettes a day.
I'm maybe he never smoked a day in his life, but he had one of those kinds of Voices and I can remember being so terrified listening to John Gershner and he had this message. He did on called reformed evangelism, and I call it Halloween evangelism.
Because he would say that you could not be saved even if you Wanted to be saved because God hates you with a holy hatred. I'm all lightheaded now, too because it is Utterly and entirely Impossible for you to be saved.
Maybe not a very good imitation of John Gershner, but you get the point. He may not have been right about everything, but he was right that salvation is utterly and entirely impossible apart from the perfect work of Jesus Christ.
Which is why he's praised because salvation belongs to him. It's his. We're thankful. He gives it to us, but it's his. I want to cry out with a loud voice. Salvation belongs to the lamb. To boast in him.
Number four. What does it mean for salvation to belong to the lamb. It belongs to the lamb and therefore it belongs to those who belong to? God. It belongs to him and therefore it belongs to us if we belong to God as the people of God once again verse 10.
Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb. Let's put some emphasis on it belongs to our God. Question in what sense is God our God? He's not our God because he's under us. He certainly doesn't mean that.
In what sense is he our God. It says he's our God the heavenly worshippers. Say it belongs to our God and to the lamb. And what sense is he our God. I? Love it that he's ours. Well you go back to Genesis you start to hear this kind of description of God.
He's the the creator of heaven and earth. Yes. He's the almighty sovereign over all yes. But he has a unique people and you start hearing this language this this language of possession. And he's he's our God.
Back in Genesis chapter 17 back in Genesis 177 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you through their Generations for an everlasting covenant to be God to you. Well, he's already God.
Overall, but now this is unique to be God to you in a personal way and to your offspring after you verse 8 of Genesis 17 and I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings all the land of Canaan for any Everlasting possession, and I will be their God it says.
And then we hear it again and again and again. It's a statement of Loyalty from God. I'll be your God. Covenant language theologians say. Bible scholars say. Covenant loyalty language. Promissory language relational language.
God is our God and salvation belongs to him and so therefore it belongs to us. When you hear that worship in heaven by those saints who are there salvation Belongs to our God. Well, the great news is he's our God and if he's our God and we belong to him by faith.
Then that salvation is our salvation. This is good and exciting. He's a loyal God and if you belong to him, he'll keep his promises to you. Sometimes we want to object to this and maybe we think we're too smart for our own good and we say but but that's only for Old Testament Israel.
Well, look at Revelation 7 verse 9 again. It's not limited to the Jews every nation it says. He shows loyalty to his people from every nation even those original covenant promises. Even those original covenant promises to make a nation to make Israel include blessings to all the peoples of the earth.
Genesis 1818 you can write it down. Genesis 22 18. We moved to the New Testament Galatians 3 16. I'll reference Galatians 3 8 listen to this and the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith.
Not just the Jews preach the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying in you shall all the nations be blessed. So then those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham the man of faith. He's our God. He's our God he if he's not your God because you say I just can't go there because that sounds Covenant all.
Well, then you're smoked. Because salvation doesn't belong to you because he's not shown his covenant loyalty to you. You've got to realize that if you are a believer. You're like Abraham and it was in that original promise to Abraham that not only the Jewish people would be blessed that all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
And we say I want a covenant-keeping God. You need a covenant-keeping God. And what we also know is we we we move not just from that Abrahamic Covenant. Which is very good and very important and Paul thinks it's very good and very important in Galatians 3 that that Building from there with Christ fulfilling all of his duties and works that he would do here on earth.
We then move into what is called even better the new covenant ratified Solidified secured in his. What in his blood? Yes. Salvation belongs to him. Why? Well because of his blood. Because of his shedding of his blood because of what he does but salvation belongs to him and That means if we belong to him.
If God is our God it belongs to us. This is a great reality. It's a great truth. Let's be like those described in our text with a loud voice saying Salvation belongs to the land it belongs to our God.
God read Benefactor that right benefactor beneficiary. Beneficiary. I get that wrong any attorneys here or the ones that receive right? He's the one that gives. Let's move on now. Let's move on to number five.
What does it mean for salvation to belong to the lamb? It belongs to the lamb to never lose. This is a pretty obvious one don't need to spend a lot of time here. It belongs to the lamb and if it belongs to the lamb, it'll never be lost.
This gets we should even think back to the eternal decree thing. It's certainly locked in it's certainly going to happen. We say you can't take it with you go to museums and see that a lot of people have thought you could take it with you.
But this is gonna forever belong to him because his work is accomplished and because as we learned from pastor Mike earlier in Revelation 5 6 he's the lamb who was slain, but he's the lamb who was slain.
Who now what? Stands. He stands because he's the victor. He stands because he was raised from the dead. And so if he's the one that salvation belongs to. He's not the guy who was a great moral teacher.
Who's dead. Salvation belongs to a dead guy. Some good that is to you and to me. Salvation belongs to the lamb who was slain. Yes who was slain but now and. So we say yes. With a loud voice we say belongs to him.
It belongs to the standing slain Savior. That makes Christianity different than anything and everything that anybody's ever seen. It's why we worship him. We give him praise we give him glory. We give him exaltation.
Isn't it interesting sometimes and we we want to be so kind of Stayed and we want to be so reserved and and be for fear that we might look like, you know worshippers are passionate. Mike talked about sporting events earlier, you know.
Passionate they're worshiping. Really? Guess what Christians are worshippers of the one true worthy object of worship. So we see it here belongs to the lamb to never lose. Salvation belongs it is in a state of belonging to the one who sits on the throne.
Isn't it interesting? He's the standing sitting lamb. Because in one sense he sits because his work is done and he rules and reigns. Yeah, in another sense he stands because he's the victor making it clear that he's alive.
Resurrected. I love Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25. He always lives. Now always lives to make intercession, but just for our sake here. He always lives. Which means he can always live to make intercession for us never to lose it never to lose it.
You know, we get caught up in debates about especially for me as a young Christian. Can you lose your salvation? Can you not lose your salvation and and then somebody helps you to realize it if it's by grace alone through faith alone in Christ.
Alone, you can't lose what you yourself didn't earn and that makes tons of sense and. Then you start thinking in terms of well. And that's right in the Bible talks about perseverance and God who began a good work in you would be faithful to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus and Philippians 1 6 comes into play and John 10 and John 6 and all this is important to know.
Sometimes what we overlook is the obvious and sometimes I like to state the obvious because that's really what what? What shocks us sometimes? We believe in eternal security because the Lamb is Resurrected and will always and forevermore be alive and apart from that There would be no eternal security.
Salvation Belongs to the Lamb to never be lost by virtue of the fact that he is Raised from the dead to always be raised. He lives for ever to make intercession for us and Finally number six. What does it mean for salvation to belong to the Lamb?
It belongs to the Lamb for his maximum exaltation. It belongs to the Lamb for his maximum exaltation. How about verse 9 again after this? I look and behold a great multitude thinks think maximum a great multitude that no one could number from everything maximum every nation from all tribes and peoples and Languages standing before the throne and before the Lamb clothed in white robes with palm branches there to worship to praise to celebrate in their hands verse 10 and Crying out with a loud voice there all of these you can't even count how many of them there are.
They're from all different kinds of backgrounds all different kinds of people coming from all different kinds of places. And what are they doing there with a loud voice? Maximizing the exaltation to Christ because he is the one to whom salvation belongs.
Maximizes his exaltation. Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. This is so central imagine what this looks like not in your imagination. But in light of Scripture what it says this is so extraordinary.
This is so awesome. This is so amazing this is so Magnificent in this it's so grand and great with so many exalting him. Ready for this. That there are even non redeemed angelic beings joining in the praise and exaltation beings.
That don't know what it's like to experience Grace who don't know what it's like to experience mercy. Who don't know what it's like to experience what this great multitude is experienced. But he is so great and what he has done for those sinners that even the angelic Beings join in.
Let's see it now verse 11 says. And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders. And the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God saying amen.
They're they're in agreement. Amen blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen. How magnificent is that? They know that it's right.
They know where the focus should be. They're affirming what redeemed sinners are doing. Extraordinary for us to see. Salvation belongs to the land. Belongs to him. Glory be to the lamb. You probably know that song what wondrous love is this.
Never gonna sing that song the same way again ever in my life. To God and to the lamb I will sing. I will sing to God and to the lamb. I will sing to God and to the lamb who is the great I am. While millions join the theme.
I want to say more than millions I will sing. I will sing while millions join the theme I will sing. What wondrous love is this? What wondrous love is this salvation belongs to? Father thank you for our time that we've had together and thank you for the men and women and boys and girls.
Who are here? May we never grow weary and never grow tired of hearing of our great Savior Jesus. We're grateful that. While we don't understand why? We do Understand that he's a great Savior who has chosen to save and he's chosen to save us.
Why us we don't know but we're grateful to be able to join with the countless Millions upon millions upon millions as well as with the angels one day and boast in Christ Lord help us to be good good worshippers in the here and now as we anticipate that day where our worship will be unhindered.
May we boast in Christ and not in ourselves. In his name we pray amen.