What Jesus Said Before He Was Born (part 2) - [Hebrews 10]

What blows your mind? What makes you think The more

I contemplate that the the more incredibly great it is Like the older I get there are fewer and fewer of those kind of things

But what blows your proverbial mind? I just had a list of a few things in no particular order

One was when my wife Kim said yes When I asked her would you marry me

I can just transport back to the place where I was when I asked her

My mind was blown when I watched each one of my children be born

Haley Luke Maddy and Gracie when I saw that I thought I cannot believe what I'm seeing

The wonders of evolution. I mean, I just could not believe it Nothing times eternity equals everything.

I was just amazed with all seriousness,

I am still Mind -boggled my mind is still in Amazement that after everything that I've done in my unregenerate life that I could be a pastor.

I Could preach the word for a holy god. I'm amazed by that My Mind was blown away the first time

I stood next to the Sea of Galilee and Thought it might not be at this exact spot

But Jesus Christ the Son of Man walked by this body of water

Also walked upon it as well and my mind of course flashes to the time in 1989 where God showed me my sin my need of a

Savior Granted me faith and repentance and trust in Christ alone.

That was Mind -boggling. I used to be a child of darkness then he Transformed me into the kingdom of his light

But you know, there's something more mind blowing than any of these things and That is what happened within the

Trinity before time began If you can get your mind wrapped around the idea that the scriptures teach before time began the

Trinity had a discussion the Trinity talked to one another the Father Son and the

Spirit the Eternal Father the Eternal Son and the Eternal Spirit Had a pact had an agreement had an arrangement

Had a covenant had a guarantee to show glory their glory to the world that boggles my mind

Now some of you I know well, some of you I don't know that well for those of you that don't know me well, and you'd like to know what

I What gets me up in the morning? What makes my tick? What's he all about? This topic today.

It's it I'm so glad I don't have to have to get up to you in front of you to this morning and say art

It's another year. So let me give you my pastoral exhortation You did a pretty good job last year.

Just do a better job this year You know, you were pretty nice last year and it's nice to be nice after all, but I want you to be nicer this year

You were good last year So if you were better than others, I know But I just want you to be better this year when you see from Scripture That God before time began made a promise

And by the way, if you're a Christian you're included in that promise You're not gonna be thinking about your health.

You're not gonna be thinking about your finances You're not gonna be thinking about what could happen this year. You're gonna think I can't believe what's happening

You'll be like Lloyd -Jones and Lloyd -Jones says if you get this down, you are gonna be standing on your tiptoes praising

God So let's turn our Bibles to Hebrews chapter 10 as we've had a small detour from 1st

Corinthians Jonathan Edwards would have a detour once in a while and he called those detours Occasional sermons.

Here's an occasional sermon Hebrews chapter 10. What did Jesus say before he was born?

I thought I was done last week, but I'm so intrigued by the topic so Drawn in that I can't stop myself

It's great. I'm like with Paul in Romans 11 where he says, oh the depth and the riches, you know, that's a

Greek word Oh this interjection. Oh, wow Sometimes I like to push the envelope a little bit.

So I'll just kind of push it to start If you're a Christian this morning, I dare you

To just say it's kind of boring You know if theology is boring.

Remember if you say theology is boring theology just truth about God a Doctrine doesn't really matter.

Remember doctrine is truth about God Truth about God doesn't matter truth about God's boring when you look at this you're gonna say no

I feel like standing on tiptoes. I feel like I want to just kind of explode

So as far as I'm concerned there might be an occasional sermon part three next week because I'm in no rush

This is just where I want to just kind of set and marinate This is what I call a crock pot theology

You just put all that meat in there and a barbecue sauce and you get those special kind of the bread

Buns there and you just kind of just let it cook all day long. You just keep smelling it You just think when is it going to be ready?

We have a lunch today here do we cancel that You say

I'd like to praise God more this topic relates to that I'd like to have more assurance of my salvation this topic relates to that I wonder if you could lose your salvation this topic addresses that What about free will this topic addresses that?

What about evangelism? this topic addresses that a Great Baptist preacher said the proper study of a

Christian is the Godhead the highest science the loftiest speculation the mightiest

Philosophy which can ever engage the intention of a child of God is the name the nature the person

The work the doings and the existence of the great God whom he calls his father

There's something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the divinity

It is a subject so vast that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity So deep that our pride is drowned in its infinity

But I have to give this caveat to start by our beware when you learn about this God this great

God He's not the pantheistic God who just says whatever happens. He's not the deist

God that says, you know, it's just all wound up Just let her go. He's the God that when you understand him, he demands everything complete allegiance

And as we study this also, it's very very humbling the Puritan John Flavel said

They that know God will be humble and they that know themselves cannot be proud

So I like that I like it when the focus is taken off of me Because when

I focus on myself too much frankly, sometimes I'm not that happy It's not that good and everything in our society is you you you

I ate Kashi cereal this morning and the name of my Kashi cereal was called what? you

It's a big you it's all about you and I was glad for the pomegranates and I was glad for the you know boys and Berries or whatever but is about us and here this idea what happened in eternity past between the

Father Son of the Spirit By the way, where were you? During that council. I wasn't there you weren't there

This is pre us and so that's what makes it so fascinating So it makes it so great

Left to ourselves we'd be like Charles Haffey. Do you remember Charles Haffey 2002? He wanted to change his name

Some people change their name to interesting things numbers Oh Joe Cinco, you know you get your name changed

This man wanted to get his name changed to God God, I think this is probably against the

ACLU's ruling though. The judge said no Imagine that the judge says no, so the guy said, okay,

I want to change my name to I am who I am The judge said well, what would your first name be then and all that?

He said I am but you know, that's who

I am, too That's who you are. We're about ourselves the pride and the arrogance and creatures thinking they're creators

So I like this topic So we can be with Jehoshaphat saying

Oh our God Our eyes are upon well, we're in Hebrews chapter 10

What did Jesus say before he was born as you know? This writer the writer of Hebrews is trying to tell people some

Christians some not That Jesus is great. Everything about Jesus is better He's more perfect and the focus should be upon Christ Don't deviate don't divert off from Christ Jesus Make sure you be focused on the

Shepherd and the mediator of your soul And basically he says to these

Jews don't turn your back on Jesus Turn your back on everything, but Jesus is really his theme

And our outline this morning will be a little bit different I think basically what I want you to do is is see maybe the who what when where why and how of your salvation?

I don't think I'm gonna get through all of those and so we're just going to look at The what and the who and the why of what happened in eternity past So that you can be more thankful Praise God more

And we're going to look at what's called by theologians the covenant of redemption If you want to call it an agreement you can an arrangement you can a promise you can a guarantee you can

I'm not a dispensationalist. I'm not a covenant theologian when dispensationalist teach the truth

I believe it when covenant theologians teach the truth. I believe it I believe in the covenant of redemption, but I also believe there's a future for Israel But the language of covenant is biblical language listen to Jesus This cup that is poured out for you is the new what?

Covenant in my blood Paul when he quoted Jesus in 1st Corinthians 11 this cup is the new covenant in my blood

Do this as often as you drink it in? Remembrance of me. I read you this morning in Hebrews chapter 13 by the blood of the eternal what?

covenant a Bond that is blood -bought a solemn promise

Salvation according to Jesus has to be thought of are conceived in some way with representation with a federal nature with covenant and so today we'll look at the covenant of Redemption number one the what of the covenant?

I want you to understand the what of the covenant this eternal covenant so your praise increases

It's going to have to Because that's what it's designed to do Focus off ourselves and focus upon the

Lord though. What of the covenant and this is where we were last week I'll just read these verses to set the tone because many were gone

Hebrews 10 verse 1 now remember the first four verses are to show us and to show the readers that continual sacrifices

Show that there is a inadequate Forgiveness Force because if it was adequate one sacrifice over Hebrews 10 1 for since the law has but a shadow of good things to come instead of the true form of these realities

It can never buy the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year make perfect those who draw near otherwise

Would they not have ceased to be offered? Yes, since the worshipers having once been cleansed would no longer have any consciousness of sins

But it doesn't clean your conscience first three But in these sacrifices yom kippur every other one for that room at for that matter

There's a reminder of sins every year the good news is sacrifice showed that we were sinful that the

Israelites were sinful Verse 10 for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins

It just won't happen and then the writer of Hebrews Quotes scripture to clinch his case

You've heard preachers do that the Bible says and very often New Testament writers do that and so here we over Hear the what of the

Covenant? The son talking to the father before time began Before he was born

Hebrews 10 5. What did you say before you were born? Consequently when

Christ came into the world He said Sacrifices and offerings you the father have not desired.

He's not talking to an angel. He's not talking to himself But a body you have prepared for me

In burnt offerings he gives a list and sin offerings both plural you've taken no pleasure

Then I said behold Talking to the father I have come to do your will

Oh God as it is written of me in the scroll of the book There we get a peek into the what of the

Covenant the eternal arrangement the packer promise between the father and the son to Go rescue a people by the power of the

Spirit of God He came into the world for that very purpose By the way, some sacrifices in the

Old Testament. Well, all of them were not Made by willing participants

Did you get some of the sheep in you'd have to get the Jew goddess notice the Judas goat? By the way, so I have a confession here

My font is now 12 instead of 11. I fought this for years

And I've been preaching from 11 font for 20 years, and I finally made it up to 20. I mean to 12

This makes it 20 They Weren't Happy to be slaughtered.

They actually had to be led in there by this kind of fake leader goat Judas goat But Jesus he offered his body what?

willingly It was a real body. It wasn't an animal body as once for all sacrificed to atone the sins of the people

Jewish sacrifices couldn't do that True or false Sacrifice was a substitute for a godly conduct in the

Old Testament As long as you have a sacrifice you're good. No the sacrifice needed to be perfect God wanted the worshiper to be obedient who could be the perfect obedient worshiper the perfect obedient person

Well, Jesus had to be that's why he said I have come to do your will we looked at this last week

What was said We don't know everything that was said before time, but I liked mr.

Spurgeon and what he calls the mysterious council chamber And this is

Spurgeon trying to put into biblical conversation what the Father Son and the

Spirit each said It's beautiful pay attention. I The most high

Jehovah do hereby give unto my only begotten and well beloved son a people Countless beyond the number of the stars who shall be by him washed from sin preserved and kept and led and By him at least presented before my throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing

I covenant by oath and swear by myself because I can swear by no greater that I give

Christ Jesus to redeem these objects of my eternal love Them I will forgive through the merit of his blood to these will

I give a perfect righteousness These will I adopt and make my sons and daughters and these shall reign with me through Christ eternal

Now those aren't the exact words, but that's exactly what the Father did The Holy Spirit said according to Spurgeon I hereby covenant that all whom the

Father giveth to the Son I will in due time quicken. I Will cut off from them all groundless hope and destroy their refuge of lies.

I will bring them to the blood of sprinkling I will give them faith whereby this blood is to be applied to them.

I will work in them every grace I will cleanse them and drive out all their depravity and they shall be presented at last spotless and faultless

The Son the Father the Spirit talking to one another. Well, what's the Sun say? This is maybe the best

My father on my part I covenant that in the fulfillment of time for fullness of time, excuse me

I will become man. I will take upon myself the form and nature of the fallen race

I will live in their wretched world and for my people. Will I keep the law perfectly?

I Will work out a spotless righteousness Which shall be acceptable to the demands of thy just and holy law in due time.

I will bear the sins of all my people Thou shall exact their debts on me the chastisement of their peace

I will endure and by my stripes they will be healed my father said the

Sun I Covenant and promised that I will be obedient unto death even the death of the cross

I will magnify thy law and make it honorable. I will suffer all they ought to have suffered

I will endure the curse of thy law and all the vials of thy wrath shall be emptied and spit upon my head

I will then rise again. I will ascend into heaven I will intercede for them at the right hand and I will make myself responsible for every one of them

Surety that not one of those whom thou hast given me shall ever be lost That I shall bring all my sheep of whom by thy blood thou hast constituted me the shepherd

I will bring everyone safe to thee at last Turn with me if you would to James chapter 1

James chapter 1 that is a masterpiece We don't know if exactly word -for -word, but there was plenty of biblical language in there

What happened before time began the Father Son and the Spirit had an eternal pact an agreement a guarantee

Yes a covenant and it was their wills the one eternal

Will of God that decided who was going to be saved and should anybody be saved God could have said

Oh, you know what like the angels no salvation He could have decided let's save everyone but here what happened whose will was it

I Asked you now Why if you're going to heaven, why are you going to heaven because you believed

No through your faith Yes, but the only reason you're going to heaven is because God's will

Chose you in the eternal counsel of God Whose will saved you

I? Asked a question where was faith in this eternal counsel. I asked the question where was free will in this eternal counsel

Whose will saved us? James 1 18 of his own will

That's just like the language of Hebrews 10 about the will of the Son of his own will

He brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures

God saved you by his own deliberate purpose and will and you say you know what? Here you go again with all this kind of God's sovereign over who goes to heaven and all that Of course,

I'm doing that because that's exactly what you need You need that you need to say to yourself before Jesus was born

He had a conversation with the Father and the Son this eternal mysterious counsel a

Conversation that's what we need to understand by the way who could come up with such a thing

Listen to what they say in heaven you are worthy Oh Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power

For you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being

Our faith wasn't in the council. We weren't in the council free will wasn't in the council

God wasn't up in the council saying you know what? Let's look down the corridors of time and we'll pick those who were like Calvin said who are really handsome

Who were pretty let's pick the pretty ones And without going off on too much of a deviation what

God what gives God more glory choosing the depraved people And then redeeming them and making them conform to the image of his son are choosing people that are pretty good

I've said this a hundred times because I think it's so effective when you see total makeovers

The makeup artist picks certain kinds of people to give a total makeover What do they pick do they pick beautiful people to make over or do they pick ugly people to make over They pick ugly people you were all looking at me like I sure hope he doesn't say ugly from the pulpit again because then you say the makeup artist the hairdresser

Those kind of people they're good What they do their handiwork is excellent

We are not saved because of faith faith is not Salvific we are saved through faith not because of faith

We're saved because of the love of God in the triune council before eternity passed

Our slogan should be with Ephesians chapter 2 regarding all of our salvation not of ourselves not of ourselves not of ourselves not of ourselves

Sometime when someone says to you when'd you get saved if you ask me Mike when'd you get saved? I'd be tempted to just say well.

It was 1989 and My father died in January. I got bought my first house in April I asked him to marry me on May 6 we got married on June 6

There's a lot of big things going on in my life, and then around September That's when I believed and trusted

Christ Jesus with my life That's true But how about when someone says to you when did you get saved?

Well, let me just tell you about what Jesus said before he was born in the eternal councils of the Trinity because that's when

I was Ultimately saved it was then is when the Father Son and the Spirit said I'm going to to pick some

And I'm going to have the son die for those son the spirit will regenerate those some and before eternity passed

God chose me Would be an interesting testimony God by himself for himself to please himself

Chose us in eternity past Which now

I'm getting my head of myself. Let's go to point number two Firstly want the what of the covenant The what of the promise now secondly the wind

I've already said it, but I couldn't help myself. When did this all happen? When did this agreement pact arrangement covenant happen turn to Titus chapter 1

Titus chapter 1 you're going to want to put a big crease in your Bible, so your Bible just naturally folds open to Titus 1

Dr.. Zemeck said all good theologians have their Bibles open naturally to Romans 5 I just got my fist out and made a huge crease in there, so I would be the neophyte theologian

Titus 1 when it comes to the eternal councils of God By the way, this is not just stuff for well.

You know this is when I go to seminary. I'll learn this This is for you in the pew if you can't read you need to know this

Paul's writing in Ephesians Paul's writing to Titus at Crete a lot of people couldn't even read

But they need to know this you go. Well. You know the whole election thing chosen predestination

We talked about that on a Wednesday night study, but not Sunday morning Paul said you need to know this if you don't know this there's something in your life.

That's lacking And look at Titus chapter 1 it's the same here I was just in Greece And I wanted to fly to Crete so badly just to stand there

Somebody even said I'll pay for your flight to fly from Athens to Crete I wanted to just get off the flight look around see if everybody were all liars evil beasts lazy gluttons get back on said

I've been to Crete. I was too sick. I Think they are all liars evil beasts lazy gluttons, but let's see

I don't they all still are they used to be Let's find out Titus chapter 1

Paul servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ Why are you in ministry

Paul for the sake of the faith of God's elect I'm in ministry because there are people who are not born again

But have been chosen by God and and I know like James chapter 1 verse 18 I preach the gospel and God saves to the preaching of the gospel

I'm in ministry for justification And their knowledge of the truth which accords to godliness

I'm also in ministry not just for justification, but for sanctification So people learn about God and his truth and and they become more godly in their practice

In hope of eternal life I'm also in ministry not just for justification not just for sanctification, but for glorification to make sure they are through the gospel promises faithful to the end and Then he says something wild right here.

See it in verse 2 In hope of eternal life which God who never lies promised before the ages began

Before the ages began who was there for him to promise to whom did he make the promise?

Angels no people no UFOs no

The only person who existed in eternity past was a triune God the

Father Son and the Spirit and before time began there was a promise made From one to another to another a promise

Now, what does he say here the God who can't lie? Why does he say that we'll look down in verse 12 because Cretans are always liars evil beasts lazy gluttons

You know what the word creep means Critico it means to lie

I've been to Madagascar. I've been to Sri Lanka and I've been to liar the island of liars

That's what the that's what creep means Lie everything about Cretans were like they were liars.

I'm not gonna talk about the Christians here, but the unbelievers That's all they did was lie They worshiped

Zeus and Zeus had to lie to sleep with some other kind of goddess The Cretans lied about Zeus was actually buried there

History says he wasn't buried there, but they're always saying you know what Zeus he was buried here Everything about the

Cretans was lie lie lie lie lie And so Paul's writing to Titus in the middle of a bunch of liars

I've got some news for you. God made a promise before time and you know something about God Let me tell you about God.

He doesn't what? He doesn't critiz. Oh He's not a liar

He's talking about his nature there. How meaningful that is in this Cretan context

But I'd have you look at the passage again in verse 2 promise before ages began Before time began

God decided to come up with a redemptive plan for humanity

People were chosen names were written down The exact same language is used in second chapter a second book of Timothy Listen to this

God saved us and called us with the holy calling not according to our works But according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began

Let me show you another passage you go to Ephesians chapter 1 Ephesians chapter 1 is the same kind of language you ask yourself the question when did this happen?

What salvation plan be did God? Was he taken off guard when it comes to sin and Adam?

When did the plan of salvation start you always talk about that the plan of salvation it started in the triune?

Godhead before time began Say well, you know, that's just not that big a deal for me for me.

It just doesn't really rev me up Well friend, that's why I'm trying to preach to you today Because this is supposed to motivate ministry

Timothy you're with a bunch of Cretans You're you're on the Titus you're on this island.

You're with all these people ministries hard lives hard Let me tell you something that would be good for your soul.

Think about the eternal Godhead and Ephesians 1 does the same thing?

Look at verse 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places

Even as he chose us in him better underline these words Before the foundation of the world

Not that we were holy but 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

What gives God the most praise in? choosing Choosing after we choose our choosing before time begins and the answer is according to Paul before the foundation of the world free election his own choice revelation 13 from the foundation of the world revelation 17 from the foundation of the world and Think beloved if God does look down the quarters of time in eternity past and says let's pick certain people

They're all going to be depraved They're all going to be sinful. I Don't know where we got this.

Let's look down the quarters of time slogan. I Was on the radio I'd say probably from Satan is where we got it because it robs

God glory God never chooses anybody because of who they are because that would be works based.

I heard on the radio yesterday When someone had said, you know, but but when I believed in Jesus all my sins were forgiven past present and future then the radio host said

Now that's kind of presumptuous if you think that when you got saved you got saved from all your past sins fine

Present sins fine, but future sins now we have to disagree with that God's gonna take a look at your entire work and judge you on the pattern of your lifestyle

And I thought I hope not or I am damned if God looks at my life and judges my life based on what

I have done I am undone I Need for Christ to step in front of me and say father

You've given me this child to redeem and I've redeemed him and you could look at my life from baptism from birth to baptism to Transfiguration to resurrection to ascension you look at that perfect righteousness and based on my life then judge him

He chose us before the foundation of the world Father son and the

Spirit met in a conference as it were Lloyd Jones says listen to this

Jesus said I have authority to lay down my life and I have authority to take it up again This commandment

I received from my father When did he receive that commandment from his father?

birth baptism Transfiguration resurrection Ascension when did he receive it in eternity past that is amazing to me in eternity past number three

The one of the Covenant God would redeem Some for his glory the when of the

Covenant and eternity past The who of the Covenant we've already discussed it

But I'll make the implicit now explicit the who of the Covenant the Father Son and Spirit The Father Son and the

Spirit equal in essence equal in nature, but a every kind of a division of labor

Father is the originator son the executive spirit the applier look at Ephesians chapter 1 we see that don't we

God is to be praised And you see the different emphasis of the

Trinity in salvation The father chooses verse 4 of Ephesians 1 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world

So God's to be praised because of predestination Secondly look at the sons work

Again they're equal yet. They had different roles in the economy of salvation Jesus verse 7 in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of our trespasses

So the father chooses he's the originator the son redeems He executes the plan the

Covenant and then down in verses 13 and 14 You have the spirit in him you also when you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation and believed in him

We're sealed with the promise Holy Spirit Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory?

divided up perfectly And lastly number for the why of the

Covenant the what of the Covenant the Father Son and the Spirit make this arrangement The when in eternity past the who we've already talked about that and now the why why of the

Covenant? Why would God do this? Charlie picked the right song to sing before we got up here not to us

Oh Lord not to us But to your name be the glory psalm 1 15 true or false

God is jealous God by nature is jealous God is very jealous

And we're afraid to say he's jealous aren't we because every time we think of jealousy we think about you know somebody talked to my wife in a public place, and I become

Sinfully jealous The Lord exodus 34 whose name is jealous is a jealous

God Deuteronomy 4 God is a consuming fire a jealous God Joshua 24 he is a jealous

God God is so jealous for his glory. He's going to construct a plan of salvation in eternity past so only

He receives that glory not some kind of creature not some kind of fallible creature frail creature finite creature sinful creature, but only

God and Paul begins to do what when it comes to Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3 and following He praises

God by the way Paul. Would you please calm down? You've been a Christian now for 25 years since you saw

Jesus on the Damascus Road and the new Christians get really excited They're the ones who are always

Jesus is great. He's coming back. I got to tell other people about Jesus I can't believe he picked me.

We just pat people on the forehead and say you'll get over that Tusk tusk Paul 25 years later

He's just shouting he's doing what Lloyd -Jones talked about later standing on his tiptoe saying God is to be praised and who gets the praise here

Who's the one who's? The one to be who's the one to be extolled and if you look at verse 6 verse 12 and verse 14 you'll see a little refrain

And here's the refrain the main word is blessed in verse 3, but there's a refrain to this nice little song

Actually, it's one sentence verse 3 to 14 in the Greek You see the little refrain verse 6 to the praise of his free will man's free will verse 12 to the praise of man's free will verse 14 to the praise of man's free will friends if you had free will before you were saved you wouldn't need a

Savior But since Adam fell we're in Bondage our wills are affected and we need someone else to come along to save us

No, what does it say here to the praise of his glorious grace When it comes to election

God is to be praised because he chose us freely When it comes to redemption were we there was your faith at Calvary did your faith die on a cross?

Did your free will die on a cross? No, Jesus died on the cross so it's to the praise of his glory and then down to verse 14 to the praise of his glory

Did your faith regenerate you did your free will regenerate you did your faith seal you no

God did all that and our response. Of course. We have a visitor today. I probably should just say it

So we see that when God saves us, of course, he doesn't repent for you He doesn't believe for you you with your own nature that has been changed now freely say

I worship you. I adore you I believe in you. I'm trying to say though that that comes

Secondarily not primarily when you get to heaven whose praise will you sing? You'll be singing

God's praise And you say well, you know what but this is this is all kind of esoteric. Let me put it this way

How about losing your salvation? If you gain your salvation you can lose your salvation but if in the councils of Eternity past the

Father Son and the Spirit the Father as originator said here's a group of people. I want you to go redeem

The Sun says I'll go redeem them. The Spirit says in time. I'll gladly quicken them if You can lose your salvation

It is a blight upon not you It defames and muddies and sullies the eternal nature of God who cannot act

Like a evil beast lazy glutton or a liar I said, well, we are we really

I'm really struggling with eternal security. I'm really struggling with can I lose my salvation? Then your struggle needs to be pointing back to eternity past Because that's where you'll get your eternal security and you'll say in light of what he's done, of course,

I should persevere to the end What does

Paul do? Paul says blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's all about him

Salvation as I said last week is not primarily about us. I'm glad I'm an object of his faith, but it's about him

I'm gonna just blame Dave Myers because he's the one who said this in my office and if you don't like it He said it. I Talked to him about this this morning.

He's like I love to hear preaching about God. I'm not even really in the sermon It's just all about God His Majesty contemplation

Come on Dave back down. I was glad to hear that and he said but you know what it's kind of like It's kind of like having a dog

This is gonna go this is gonna be bad. But Dave said it anyway, and he said Do you know the dog thinks all our love and care and adoration is for them?

They think it's all you know, they're the center of it all they get all the treats attaboys good boy Sick and boy, you know, they get all those kind of things

But really the animal that we have for those of you that are biblical and have dogs instead of cats that dog that we have

Good dogs go to heaven. Where do bad cats go? Okay It's about why the reason why

I have a pet is for me my pleasure my happiness It's all for me.

It's not for them Everything I do for my pet is because it's for my own good pleasure and I receive now the analogy breaks down.

I know I Think I know I hope Dave knows

God's glory is at stake. And of course we are recipients But that's not what's driving

God. I got a crazy love for these people. I'm just so crazy about them. They're the apple of my eye

Secondarily that is true Primarily, I'm a jealous God and I receive the glory.

I'm the creator. I'm the sustainer. I'm the Savior. I'm the judge I'm eternal. I'm eternal and I want to receive glory and as I make myself

Manifest in the world with this plan of salvation Nothing else can give me more glory than to have a group of people who have a federal head

Under Adam and when Adam fell they all fell How are we going to redeem this people then?

we'll have someone called as first Corinthians 15 calls him the last Adam who will come and obey where Adam the first one could not and then he'll redeem his people and Then the father who gave the son those elect people before eternity passed

The son will redeem them He'll conform them to him his image Romans chapter 8 and then at the end of time

He will give back those redeemed elect saints to the father because as MacArthur says rightly

True love expresses itself in giving the father says the son. I give you the elect go die for them

The son says gladly then at the end the son has died for them The spirit is quick in them the son an eternity future hands back us to the son to the father rather And you think it's not about us

MacArthur love must find an expression true Love always seeks ways to give and in a demonstration of his perfect love for his son

The father made a pledge to the son and what was that pledge? He promised a son a redeemed people

Justified sanctified glorified he promised to bring the redeemed to the ones the redeemed ones to glory that they might dwell in the very place

Where the son and the father have dwelt since before time began in the very realm of God This leads me to another thought the church is invincible

We can't lose our salvation. I mean maybe the practical thing should be one praise to you can't lose your salvation if God Originated it applied it executed and executed it

But the church wins every person that the father has chosen before the foundation of the world will come to faith

Now if you didn't believe that and you're hoping you're the person you're married to this not a believer your children Believers your parents that aren't believers your friends that aren't believers your neighbors who aren't believers

It's going to depend on the goodness in them, which they have none It's going to depend on how great of an evangelist you are and I speak collectively for you all you're not

I'm not No one can talk someone to the end real saving faith So you need hope and here's the hope the hope would be that God chose some to believe the eternal promise of God Glorifies him because it was a reciprocal promise son

I give you these to die for the son says I'll gladly do it and then the son says I'll gladly redeem them conform them to my image and as you love me

I'll make them look like me because of my sanctifying work through the spirit and now we'll have a whole church that looks just like Me as close as finite creatures who are redeemed can look like Christ and the son now

Reciprocally gives the church back to Christ get back to the father This helps me too because too often in my mind

God's a God of wrath and holiness the son's a God of love and That poor son had to go the father go out there.

I'm gonna pour my wrath on you when the father said Son I love you go redeem this people that I give you the son says father.

I love you. I'll gladly go do it We're just incidental

It's all about God's glory to the praise of his glory That's why the angel sing praise when one person repents true or false

Theology is boring. I don't know about you But I look at this

I'll tell you what's boring Another how -to sermon from the pulpit on January 2nd or 3rd or whatever day this is just go out and get them

Let's go turn the world upside down for Jesus. We got a sweat more pray more try more exert more

Well, those things all are fine as long as they flow out of who you are in Christ.

Here's who God is Here's what he's done for you. And in response to that then we're like the Hebrews in Hebrews 13

I want to love other people. I would have a pure marriage. I want to follow the leaders.

I want to evangelize Disinterested in theology,

I think that's more an indictment on the person who says it not God Not just for life.

This is important. How about for death? I don't think I was ever close to death in the last couple months, but a few times

I just thought There would be a good relief if I could just die But good health insurance good obviously don't have good health insurance, but I have good life insurance for my wife kids

So when you're laying there you're thinking, you know, I'm not getting any better. I'm not getting any better. I'm not getting any better and mortal

What gets you through the night? Well, I was really good this last year

I had a lot of good devotions I really kept up with my faith and other people notice that and No Devo's no breakfast

Made sure I had my devotions devotions are good Remember when

John DeBruyne was here 14 years ago sanctuaries flipped around he was right over there and he said I was laying down He said

I was having a heart attack. I thought I was gonna die And you know DeBruyne is always into music and songs and song time

John DeBruyne on V &E And he said I'll never forget it. He said when

I was laying there thought I was going to die He wasn't gonna die up here, but he was talking here about that.

I'm almost John DeBruyne's up there I slew him in the spirit. He was laying there. I took my coat off.

I hit him. He got back up See doesn't all the shenanigans out there

Fade when you look at the Godhead. Oh You know, there was a healing service down to the centrum.

They lengthen people's legs down there and give people gold fillings Well, why waste my time and money because I can ponder the eternal

Godhead Get wrapped up in some kind of shenanigans down to the centrum. I don't need Because I'd like to be impressed and I'm not impressed with Kreskin who calls himself a reverend.

I'm not impressed by that at all Now you young people know the old people know Kreskin and DeBruyne said when

I was laying there thought I was gonna die. I wasn't singing shine Jesus shine So what does that mean?

Kind of sounds nice doesn't I actually kind of like the song except It's abysmal theology shine

Jesus shine You're like, okay, maybe shine forth his excellencies first Peter 2 9, that's right

But DeBruyne said when I was laying there gonna die. I thought to myself. My hope is found what?

and nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness John Knox he's dying the

Scottish reformer. He's on his deathbed Do you deny your faith because of your illness or do you believe what you taught that Jesus Christ perfect life death confirmed by the

Resurrection is your only hope raise your hand if you believe it Three times

Knox raises his hand J. Gresham Machen The lion of the

Christian faith in the last century is dying in South Dakota because he's exhausted.

He's got pneumonia preaching to small little churches He verbally dictates a telegram to John Murray at Westminster Seminary What are you going to write in your deathbed?

I'm telling you you should be thinking about the eternal counsels of God because that's where your hope is Machen wrote

I'm so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it

I'm going to trust that in eternity past The father sent the son not just to die for his people

But also to live a perfect life as a perfect sacrifice for them and God is going to take that perfect righteousness

Perfect obedience to the law and credit it to my spiritual bank account Because he says if you look to him with faith, that's what he'll do

So thankful for the active obedience of Christ no hope without it. I don't know what blows your mind.

I Don't know what motivates you But I think

S. Lewis Johnson had it right when he said, you know the problem with Christians in America I just don't read their

Bibles enough And so may I encourage you at the beginning of this year to read your

Bibles and when you read your Bible you will see It's not about me it's not about other people

I'm glad that we're recipients of this great salvation, but everything about this is about God and his glory

That's why I exist Why do I exist? What is the purpose of my life?

I have a purpose to make the gospel shine so that God gets glory People say well, you know what?

I don't like all this eternity past stuff. I don't like all this Reform talk doctrines of grace sovereignty over God eternal counsels.

I don't like it Friends the only thing that is I guess it could be a ignorance or be pride

But you shouldn't just like it. You should love it Sit and contemplate the triune

God Is what you'll do forever in eternity in heaven. Let's pray.

Oh God our help in ages past our hope in years to come We are impressed with the triune

God We want your fame to increase of course across the world, but in our hearts

How could you be just and holy? Still forgive sins

Jesus Christ is the answer. I Pray for those here today father who are not born again.

I Pray that you would convict them of their sin And have them call out with the tax collector

God have mercy upon me the sinner Father for the

Christians here today Would you help us? To be reminded of what we deserved just quickly and then our focus back upon who took that punishment

We deserved and father give us praise. Give us joy. Give us Thanksgiving He doesn't give us a desire to study your attributes and perfections