Chosen For Glory (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 Jeff Kliewer)

Cornerstone Church

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June 6, 2022

Sermon Notes: notes.cornerstonesj.org Chosen For Glory

00:00: service group and a second service group. I think we still have a zoom group but I'm not sure if it's zoom it's online.
00:07: But please come back stay here after second service is done. There is a significant number of people wanting to be baptized and next
00:17: Sunday afternoon we are going to have a baptismal service right there out on the lawn. This is a time of blessing and just proclaiming the faith for those who are being baptized.
00:30: For those of us who are going to get to witness what a time for encouragement and to be building up of our faith.
00:36: Let's be in prayer for that baptism and then there's going to be a picnic afterward. Now I was kind of thinking just by looking at Pastor Jeff's Pastagram this must be a
00:47: BYO. Pastor Jeff then informed me Dad's Deli.
00:55: Now how many of you are writing down I'm coming I'm coming I'm coming for Dad's Deli? Oh does that count as baptism?
01:06: Can somebody choose to be baptized on the water slide? No all right. Let's enjoy a time of celebration with God for the baptism then a time of fellowship together.
01:20: Come back then later that evening for our prayer meeting and then if you can't make that but please come back later at 7 15 we have a movie
01:28: Show Me the Father. It is specifically focused towards the men but the women are definitely invited to see what this teaching is all about in today's culture.
01:39: Today's culture just driving us in such weird ways. Men need to be men according to the
01:46: Bible and come and watch and listen to this teaching. Next Sunday we are also having a special emphasis offering.
01:54: In addition to your tithes and offerings you know we're getting ready to close on land and then we're looking towards God towards a new building.
02:02: We have a capital fund which is an ongoing fund you can always contribute to it but next Sunday will be a special offering toward what's going on and how
02:11: God is leading us. So go ahead and put that in your prayers for the week. Tomorrow morning gentlemen is that time of month we get to wake up early for the men's prayer breakfast at six o 'clock.
02:24: So join us for that and in just 10 days we Lord willing will be closing on that land on Phillips Road.
02:31: Then looking forward to where does he take us beyond that a big emphasis of prayer.
02:37: Our regular schedule this week with prayer meeting with men's apologetics, ladies precepts, small groups.
02:44: Wednesday right here in the sanctuary we have our Isaiah teaching which then goes online.
02:51: Love life is not this Saturday but the following Saturday on the 18th. Our love life prayer walk put that on your prayer list.
03:00: Let's turn to prayer. Oh give thanks to the
03:05: Lord for he is good. His steadfast love endures forever.
03:12: Lord we thank you for your presence in our lives. We thank you for your son who willingly went to the cross his blood shed.
03:22: We thank you for your grace that he can even can awaken our dead hearts.
03:29: We thank you for the Holy Spirit working within us for your word that we're even called to be your witnesses.
03:37: Lord we thank you for the baptism that's coming for those who are ready to be baptized that this would be a week of spiritual preparation that they would be coming excited that we would come excited to witness to it.
03:51: Thank you Lord for calling us to ministry and to testimony in a world that is dark.
03:57: We have your truth that we can proclaim your truth but we don't go alone we go in the power of the
04:04: Holy Spirit. We go knowing Lord that you go before us equipping cultivating hearts.
04:11: Lord we thank you for the gifts that you've given to each one of us to be used for your glory and for the one another that we have here at Cornerstone being with each other.
04:23: But most of all Lord we thank you for your son. We thank you for his obedience his blood shed.
04:31: We thank you for salvation for the Holy Spirit. We thank you for the hope that we have.
04:39: Father we also continue to lift those in our midst in need this morning
04:44: Lord as Pastor Jeff comes and speaks to us about the sovereignty of God's choice and the most important of all decisions a person can make.
04:54: We pray Lord that you would empower him prepare our hearts. Oh give thanks to the
05:00: Lord for he is good his steadfast love endures forever amen.
05:07: Let's all stand before we sing let's read together Revelation 22 17.
05:14: The spirit and the bride say come and let the one who hears say come and let the one who is thirsty come and let the one who desires to take the water of life without price.
06:09: I will wait I will stand upon your word you're my solid rock and my salvation my steadfast hope that won't be shaken my soul will wait my soul will wait for you you're my stronghold and my shield in the midst of every threat they will vanish like a breath yes
06:49: I know the outcome's sure satan's evil plans will fail in your power
06:59: I'm secure you're my solid rock and my salvation my steadfast hope that won't be shaken my soul will wait my soul will wait for you you you're my comfort when
07:21: I feel forsaken my refuge and my sure foundation my soul will wait my soul will wait for you this is love
07:36: I can't explain this is mercy unreserved through your sacrifice so great
07:47: I have peace that's undeserved for the battle has been won and I fear no shame or loss now the sting of death is gone you're my solid rock and my salvation my steadfast hope that won't be shaken my soul will wait my soul will wait for you you're my comfort when
08:24: I feel forsaken my refuge and my sure foundation my soul will wait my soul will wait for you creatures of god and king lift up your voice with us thou silver moon with soft degree ah hallelujah praise praise the father praise the son and praise the spirit three in one oh praise him oh praise him alleluia hallelujah his great love
10:54: Oh Yeah Christ has defeated every sin
11:08: Cast all your burdens now Oh Yeah Ah How to pray
11:42: Joy to Me All creatures of our
12:01: God Hallelujah Yeah, Oh Praise Him Oh Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia Praise God from the saints
12:41: Praise Him all creatures
12:48: Hear me There is
13:39: Filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins
13:48: And sinners plunged Beneath that flood
13:55: Lose all their guilty Lose all their guilty
14:08: Stains lose all their guilty stain
14:15: And sinners Dear dying
14:42: My precious Loses He's Oh Has been
16:27: Has been Ah Let's all be seated the bed the doxology always a great thing to have when we're in worship praise
17:19: God from whom all blessings flow We could speak for 45 minutes just on that one but let jeff i'll let you have your time
17:33: We also sang about how we are washed in the blood and what an amazing truth that is as the time approached
17:44: Jesus called his followers to an upper room where they shared the passover and Many things happened in that room some amazing teaching
17:56: He washed their feet he said it's good for you that I go and they're going
18:04: Huh He says but if I go I will send another And he will be with you in fact and acts as he departs
18:15: He says you shall receive power after the holy spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses
18:23: He had a plan for his people but at that time in that room in the upper room
18:28: He takes bread and he breaks it and he says this is my body broken for you He takes the cup and he said this is my blood shed for you
18:40: I don't know that there could have been any really understanding of what was going on Well, first of all, we know that the holy spirit does not yet indwell
18:49: Although these messages are important what's about to happen in just a few short hours
18:57: It's so dark and deep and just full of despair as they they saw their
19:03: Their their rabbi their their leader on a cross That very very dark moment where he says my god my god.
19:13: Why have you forsaken me? The reality that we now know is that my sins your sins the sins of all
19:19: Eternity on him for that one moment and god had to turn his face away. That's the agony
19:26: And then he said to tell us die What he had proclaimed in that upper room was completed satan thinking
19:35: That the prophecy all the way back from genesis 3 That he would destroy the messiah was
19:42: Not to be so you see He died for our sins
19:49: And then on the third day he rose again and that we who know this truth who are
19:58: Regenerated by his grace so that we can hear this message and respond in faith
20:04: We become new people it says we're a new creation the old is past all is new
20:10: And now we know and now we understand and then paul writes this letter to corinthians for us
20:19: You see in front of us right now are some elements The world can look at it and say. All right.
20:24: You got some crackers. You got some juice. No No, we have representations of his body broken
20:32: And of his blood shed so that when we when we come to this table we come in remembrance of him
20:40: We come celebrating. How do you celebrate a death on a cross? My brothers and sisters if it wasn't for that death on a cross if it wasn't for jesus in that garden saying if there's any way
20:53: Yet not my will but thine be done The extent of the depth of that love
20:58: Our coming here is foolishness his rising from the dead our hope eternal
21:06: Risen like him and so these elements are laid in front of us And we're about to share in that It says in first corinthians chapter 11 for I have received of the lord that which
21:18: I also delivered unto you That the lord jesus on the same night He was betrayed
21:26: Took bread Now at the end of this passage is a very important challenge to each one of us
21:35: Wherefore whoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the lord Unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the lord, but let a man examine himself
21:46: And so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily
21:52: Eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the lord's body.
21:58: Let's not come trivially Or let's not uncome unworthily. Let's not uncome with sin that we know needs to be confessed.
22:06: Let's confess And prepare ourselves And so in prayer take a moment and confess praise god from whom all blessings flow
22:39: Father through your blood my sins have been forgiven I'm no longer a slave to sin
22:47: But lord I do confess my surrender to sin I do confess lord knowing it says if you walk in the spirit
22:57: You'll not fulfill the desires of the flesh yet lord. I choose at times
23:04: To believe satan's lie and I fulfill that lust of the flesh I confess that to you
23:10: I pray father our confessions are sincere and specific As we come to this table in remembrance in jesus name
23:19: Amen If the servers would come forward For i've received of the lord that which
23:39: I also delivered unto you that the lord jesus The same night he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks
23:47: He broke it and said take eat This is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me
24:12: Take a diamond And raise him up to life again
24:18: What can heal a wounded soul? What can make us white as snow?
24:25: What can fill the emptiness? What can mend our brokenness?
24:33: Brokenness And mighty awesome wonderful Is the holy cross
24:50: To lift us from the fall and mighty the power of What restores our faith in god?
25:25: What reveals the father's love? What can lead the wayward home?
25:31: What can melt a heart of stone? What can free the guilty ones?
25:38: What can save overcome? Overcome And mighty awesome wonderful Wonderful Is the holy
26:00: Where the lamb laid down his life to lift us from Mighty The power of god knowing that in my sinful state
26:23: I could not offer a sacrifice Sufficient sent his son on that cross his body broken take
26:34: Heed and remembrance of him After the same manner also he took the cup
26:50: When he had stopped saying this cup is the new testament in my blood this do ye
26:56: As oft you do it drink it in remembrance of me For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you do show the lord's death
27:07: Till he come What restores our faith in god what reveals the father's love
27:23: What can lead the wayward home? What can melt a heart of stone?
27:30: What can free the guilty ones? What can save Overcome awesome
27:46: Wonderful is the holy cross
27:55: Where the lamb laid down his life to lift us from the power
28:15: It's a miracle to me It's a miracle to me
28:22: And it's still a mystery And it's still a mystery
28:28: That it's a miracle to me the power of god for those who believe
28:39: And mighty Awesome wonderful Is the holy cross
28:52: Where the lamb laid down his life
28:58: To lift us from the fall Oh and mighty awesome wonderful Is the holy cross
29:18: Where the lamb laid down his life
29:24: To lift us from the fall Mighty power
29:41: Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins And so the pure spotless lamb hung on the cross his blood shed
29:50: So that my sins might be washed white as snow we do this in remembrance of him take drink
30:35: What a privilege to take communion, isn't it to come to his table? Let's pray
30:43: Father, thank you so much For sending your one and only son Jesus thank you so much for loving us to the point of shedding your blood
30:55: And spirit, thank you for applying this truth to us that we would believe
31:02: It is a trinitarian work by which we are saved And so we want to say thank you
31:09: Help us lord through the preaching of your word now to become a more thankful Grateful people
31:15: Help us to give all glory to you and give us joy in the holy spirit Thank you so much now for the opening of your word
31:23: Speak your servants are listening In jesus name we pray. Amen I was sent a video
31:34: From someone in our congregation and it was of the marlton evesham board of education meeting that happened last week
31:44: It was an astonishing video to watch Because many of the people were were just filled with anger and vitriol
31:53: Um, and it was it was quite a thing to behold The board of education was listening to one man go on and on about how
32:03: They might cut funding for speech Therapy for some of the children now if you mask children in the classroom for years
32:12: You can expect that their speech will be affected by this And yet thinking that the government has some kind of money other than what it takes from the people
32:22: They assume an endless supply of funds for things like speech benefits to help children which we support and yet There's not an endless amount of money
32:35: A second issue that he was just beating them up with was with reference to health benefits that teachers
32:41: Might not have the same benefits that they had prior to the pandemic or something of this nature
32:46: But what stood in my mind is that he said these are not hard choices. They're evil on the level of cartoon villains
32:54: So he labeled these board of education people cartoon villains who are absolutely evil
33:00: Now he had a third gripe and at this point I began to think if the whole world stinks
33:06: Check your mustache This litany of just grievances and anger and vitriol.
33:14: Well, the last of them was directed at 1776 christian nationalists Who are no different than the taliban and their quest to impose extremist views
33:29: He was for the sexual education of minors in the lgbtq direction and called those who resisted such a thing cultists and hate -filled christian nationalists
33:41: And said that we are a threat to the very fabric of society
33:48: Kind of insane and yet what was even more surprising is that His cohort of friends cheered loudly and wildly applauded which is a bit of a disnerving
33:59: Unnerving I should say thing that it wasn't Regarded as just him being unhinged.
34:05: In fact, he went on to say the unhinged and dangerous extremists Should be canceled
34:12: He chastised the board of education for even listening to the other side and says that they should just make them sit down Well, I look at a man like this online and I think to myself
34:29: What makes me different? Than him Because I couldn't be more different than this man
34:36: It's night and day it's As different as light Is from darkness
34:44: How is it that I would come into the light and this man Has not and our world views are just polar opposites.
34:53: What makes us who sit in this room christians Who see the world through this book as opposed to the secular worldview
35:04: And the lens that others see with but for the grace of god
35:11: There go I The point of my message today is not to say that i'm anything because i'm nothing
35:19: The point of my message is to remind you brothers and sisters that everything we have every spiritual blessing
35:27: Comes from god and not from us It is all of grace and nothing more humble inside of us nothing
35:35: Better about us that would make us choose christ Where the people of the world reject him?
35:43: It's all of grace And we'll see that in the text as we come to it today, but first a word about the month designated by our president as pride month the world sees the
36:01: Sexual expression of people very differently than we do And they go so far as to identify their movement as pride
36:11: But the scripture says pride goeth before the fall In fact the very definition of love given in first corinthians 13
36:20: Which I read when i'm conducting weddings all the time first corinthians 13 the famous love chapter in verse 4
36:27: It says love is not proud Pride has always been regarded as one of the seven deadly sins
36:36: In the history of christianity pride lust anger greed gluttony envy sloth I memorized that when
36:42: I learned that in middle school in a public school Pride has always been regarded as an affront to god
36:50: Jesus said all evil things come from within and they defile a person Pride of course is the root of other sins
37:00: Because it is the creature saying to the creator. You cannot tell me what to do
37:07: It's the elevation of man to the place of god And this is the month in which we live in this country and a moment which marks the state of affairs in our country
37:19: How are we to respond? That's the question And the answer is but for the grace of god there go
37:26: I as we come into second thessalonians chapter 2 turn with me We have been learning about Where this trajectory takes us?
37:38: according to second thessalonians chapter 2 We have to expect that the world will continue in this direction of apostasy the great apostasy in second thessalonians
37:52: Chapter Two verse three referred to as the rebellion i've called it the great reset
38:02: Referring to a once christian society Turning away and rebelling from that authority
38:09: It is called the apostasy of the rebellion. This must come and then the antichrist will be revealed
38:15: And he will set up the abomination of desolation in the most holy place Proclaiming himself to be god and this will then usher in what is called the day of the lord
38:24: It is the tribulation as spoken of in the book of revelation a day of wrath on earth revelation 617
38:33: These things are to come but they haven't started yet because the restrainer
38:39: Is keeping it at bay you see The tribulation and the end times are not on satan's timetable, but they are held and controlled by God And the holy spirit is restraining these these things until their time when god has ordained for them to come to pass
38:58: Last week we saw in verses 9 to 12 That the fundamental spirit of the age is rebellious against the truth
39:07: People do not love truth. They despise the truth of god's word And they reject and suppress that truth therefore there comes a point
39:17: Where god may give a person over To the delusion verse 11 says god sends them a strong delusion so that they may believe
39:27: What is false? It's the truth versus the lie, that's the that's the struggle that we're experiencing in our culture as worldviews are colliding
39:38: Those who hold to the christian worldview are clashing with those who reject that worldview
39:44: And believe the lie the pseudo the false in verse 11 In order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness so that leaves us at a very
39:59: Down moment in the text right the promise of of hell to those who have rejected truth
40:06: And the strong delusion that's come over the world the tribulation the antichrist not exactly a pep talk, right?
40:14: And the context of this book is a church that is going through persecution now in america
40:21: We have not tasted even the first fruits of genuine persecution
40:27: We are so blessed in this country because it's been founded by the puritans Who established a country on inalienable rights the constitution that governs our land
40:38: Built upon biblical principles of individualism And the esteem of individuals made in the image of god
40:45: We have inherited that blessing and so we have not had to endure persecution very much
40:52: Well, there will come a day when that hand of restraint will be lifted and america will suffer the same way as the rest of the world will
41:00: But around the world you have people already enduring Terrible suffering being martyred
41:07: In nigeria But the news doesn't report on those hundreds of christians being slaughtered.
41:15: It's a common thing from boko haram And all around the world the persecution in china
41:22: And in russia and in the ukraine and all over the world christians are being persecuted We have been blessed to have been protected as we have to this level
41:32: But in thessalonica, they were losing their jobs They were being killed They were being persecuted and so how then
41:42: Can a christian Hang on to the faith In a culture like that That's the question
41:49: And the answer comes in verse 13 and 14, but it's surprising because it's deep and theological.
41:55: Here's how I want you to think about it Think about the answer as like ballast in a ship i've used this metaphor before Ballast is weight
42:06: Put into the bottom of a ship that keeps it from capsizing now a light ship Is high on the water and it can move quickly with the wind
42:15: As it drives it along The sail cap capturing capturing the wind It can move quickly and it's agile
42:23: But What the the captain knows is that if the ship is too high on the water
42:29: A strong gale can what? Blow it over tip it over it'll capsize and now you'll be treading water in the middle of the ocean
42:37: How can the christian keep from capsizing? He needs ballast in his ship
42:44: He needs the depth the weight of god's word of doctrine doctrine matters
42:50: And as we add these doctrines to our mind to our thinking it's like adding ballast to the ship of our life
42:58: When the wind comes and the waves kick up you will not capsize When the persecution comes when difficult times diagnoses of cancer or some other condition
43:13: The things that all of us will face in this life when those times come you're going to need ballast in your ship
43:19: So that's why i'm going to ask you right now to pay attention to a doctrinally difficult sermon
43:25: But i'm only going to preach what is written in these words i'm not going to bring you my calvinism
43:35: Because john calvin would have run me out of geneva Do you know that? He was a pedo baptist and he thought that the anabaptists were
43:46: Heretics and I would never baptize a baby only a believer. So calvin would have given me the boot in geneva
43:53: So i'm not a follower of the man calvin, but where he spoke rightly about salvation
44:00: And god's choice and election. We're only echoing what the word of god has said at those particular points
44:07: Let's read it Don't take it from me. Don't take it from old john Calvin you can take it from john laskin
44:15: Let's read it from the text of god's holy word Verses 13 and 14 and it's a surprise twist because we're talking about the antichrist and all of a sudden we're talking about election
44:26: Verse 13, but we ought always to give thanks to god for you
44:34: Brothers beloved by the lord Because god chose you as the first fruits to be saved through sanctification by the spirit
44:48: And belief in the truth To this he called you through our gospel so that you may obtain the glory of our lord.
44:59: Jesus christ Three things I want you to see in the passage today Number one is choice
45:06: Who chooses if there's only one ultimately free being in the universe
45:12: His name is god not jeff God chooses not you
45:21: We'll see that in the text secondly means So the first is choice. The second is means
45:27: By what means are we saved? God ordains the means of sanctification by the spirit and belief in the truth and thirdly to what end
45:38: So choice means an end We are chosen to the end of glorification that we would obtain the glory
45:46: Of our lord. Jesus christ. Let's break that down first choice as soon as I begin to teach on election
45:57: And god's choice there will be philosophical objections in the room and online
46:04: And let me assure you that everything that you might wrestle with is something that my mind has also struggled with over the years
46:12: But let me tell you where I ultimately settle it's not philosophy colossians 2 8 warns us about that And how the fairness of this that and the other might appear to my little brain
46:26: I settle wherever god Tells me to settle And the word of god could not be any more clear than in this particular passage
46:35: Because some will say well his choice Is maybe for conformity to the christian and the image of god
46:42: But god would never choose who will be saved. What does the text say in verse 13? But we ought always to give thanks to god for you brothers beloved by the lord because god chose you
46:56: As the first fruits to be saved He literally says that right there in the text
47:06: God chose you to be saved Now the first big idea that you might not have seen in a quick reading of the text is that these two verses are trinitarian
47:19: See if you can find all three members of the trinity in verses 13 and 14 But we ought always to give thanks to god that's the father whenever god is without a um
47:32: A reference beyond just that he's god it's referring to the father For you brothers beloved by the lord kurios master is jesus and that's confirmed at the end of verse 14
47:46: Where our lord our kurios is identified as the second member of the trinity jesus christ and look dead smack in the middle through sanctification by the spirit
47:59: I Love this verse because it's kind of like a miniature version of ephesians 1 3 to 14
48:07: In ephesians 1 3 to 14, we see it Expanded and you see the father electing
48:13: The son interposing his precious blood at ephesians 1 7 and then the holy spirit
48:19: In verses 13 and 14 of ephesians 1 applying that redemption, but now we have it just in short order
48:25: A condensed version and here's what I want to say to you Salvation is a trinitarian work
48:34: And the trinity as father son holy spirit are always in perfect harmony
48:42: There's no disharmony between the one the father elects and for whom jesus dies
48:48: Or the work of the spirit in the life of a person There's no disharmony between that and the one that the father elects look in our text it was god the father
48:58: Who did the choosing? Next it was the son here that does the loving do you see that?
49:11: And all there's a perfect harmony so there's perfect love god is love first john but here in the text it says brothers be loved by the lord listen
49:24: It is true That god so loved the world the entire cosmos all people
49:36: He has a general love for people. He's not a harsh And strict god who's just looking for someone to condemn
49:45: He's a loving god and he has a loving gracious disposition to the world. John 3 16.
49:50: Amen It is also true that god has a special saving love for his bride
50:01: The the groom lays down his life for the bride
50:07: In ephesians 5 the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep
50:15: And it says here brothers beloved by the lord he's calling you a delphoid brothers you specifically
50:22: Who believe in him? are under a special Love from jesus christ himself
50:30: You're loved by him He said this I no longer call you servants
50:36: Because a servant doesn't know his master's business. No from now on I call you friends
50:43: His friends his brothers in hebrews 2 Are those whom he represents in going to the cross and his love is this?
50:54: Greater love has no one than this the one who lays down his life for his friends
51:03: The father elects The son then lays down his life in a particular love
51:10: To pay the price of the sin that I have committed His blood actually intercedes for me
51:18: And atones for me He knew me as he hung on the cross
51:24: As jesus hung on the cross he knew you as the one the father elected
51:31: And that the spirit would regenerate in time, which brings us to the third person It says here
51:37: Sanctification by the spirit in order to believe the truth
51:47: One must be sanctified by the spirit The spirit's role in redemption is to take what belongs to the son and apply it
51:57: And thus glorify the son setting you apart for belief in the truth
52:04: Now this teaching about election The father elects even before the foundation of the world is a difficult one to be sure
52:14: But it's not muddy It's not unclear It's very clear.
52:20: In fact in john 6 44 Jesus is teaching and he says no one comes to me
52:27: Unless the father draws him and I will raise him up on the last day
52:33: Jesus taught that he goes on to teach remember you did not choose me.
52:39: No, I have chosen you in the book of acts
52:46: Paul is sent on a missionary journey. Do you remember this in acts 13? And he goes preaching the gospel
52:54: And we're told by luke as he records these events In chapter 13 verse 48 as many as were appointed to eternal life believed
53:05: Now I want to stop there and have you think about that for a second How have you thought about salvation happening?
53:13: Someone preaches the gospel And you must do the believing that has to come from you
53:21: And if you do that then what you'll be appointed to eternal life That is the teaching of most american churches in evangelicalism today
53:33: Not for the history of the church But ever since john wesley and the second great awakening in the united states of america popularized that view
53:44: But what the text actually says turn with me to acts chapter 13 verse 48 What the text actually says acts 13 48
54:01: I Don't know how I used to miss this because I didn't have a robust doctrine of salvation in my younger years
54:10: But through reading and actually I wrote a commentary on the book of romans And as I was studying through the book and writing on romans 9
54:18: Romans 8 9 I had no choice but to believe what was right there in the text And so I did finally submit to that teaching but for some reason whenever I would read the book of acts
54:29: I probably read it hundreds of times over the course of my life whenever I would read read verse 48
54:35: I missed the order That luke was inspired to write Do you see this here brother?
54:42: And when the gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the lord And as many as were appointed to eternal life believed
54:56: It's not that belief appoints them to eternal life. It's that being appointed that means elected chosen by god results in the believing
55:08: So this faith itself is a gift Turn with me to ephesians 1 i've already referenced it, but I just like you to see it with your own eyes
55:21: Lest you you doubt me As some of you no doubt do that's okay ephesians 1 3 to 6 we'll stop there
55:38: Ephesians 1 3 to 6 says blessed be the god and father Of our lord jesus christ who has blessed us in him in christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
55:56: So the idea here is that we're blessed It's not coming from us. We're just blessed and then in verse 4 it says even as He chose us in him before the foundation of the world
56:11: That we should be holy and blameless before him in love
56:18: He predestined us for adoption as sons Through jesus christ according to the purpose of his will
56:26: To the praise of his glorious grace with which he has blessed us In the beloved now some have taught that It's not that jesus
56:36: Has chosen an actual person It's only that he's chosen the church a group of people and that group
56:47: Will be populated By our own decisions Have you heard that teaching?
56:53: Because it says he chose us in him. And so some will say well, it's christ who's the chosen one
56:59: According to first peter 120. That's true. Christ is the chosen one But the way that you're part of that elect group is by your own choice and it's really up to individuals
57:11: To join it Can you look at verse 4 with me for a second? the bible clearly says
57:20: Even as he God the father chose us
57:27: That word us is hamas in the greek It's a personal possessive pronoun
57:36: It cannot be read as group It is us It is you and you and you who believe in christ
57:45: It is us the adelphoi the brothers it is the ones to whom paul refers now, let's go back to second thessalonians chapter 2 verse 13
57:54: It is the ones that he here calls brothers beloved by the lord. It is a beautiful teaching
58:05: It's a teaching about love the father has fixed a special love upon Certain ones that he has chosen
58:17: It goes on to say because god chose you as the first fruits now look at your bible does anybody there have
58:23: Something other than as the first fruits Raise your hand Everybody reading the esv has
58:32: As the first fruits, right, but if you've got the nas or the the king james or the niv It will read from the beginning
58:41: Now from the beginning mirrors what we just read in ephesians 1 4 So, why is there a difference there in our bibles
58:49: The answer is that there is a textual variant in the manuscript tradition
58:55: There was a manuscript discovered Before the writing of the esv the earliest manuscript
59:02: Of second thessalonians and it actually has first fruits rather than beginning
59:09: In rk or the first fruits, which is it? Well the majority text meaning the byzantine majority the number the the huge number of texts that come later on but are more predominant has
59:27: From the beginning. So where does that leave us? It leaves us slightly unsure
59:35: Does the esv handle it, right? Or do the king james and other versions handle it, right?
59:44: Here's the point That prepositional phrase does not change the active verb
59:51: And what it modifies look more carefully at the text if you read it as as the first fruits
59:57: It simply means you thessalonians are among the first to be chosen right You're among those who are first to believe if your version reads from the beginning
01:00:10: Beginning That means you were chosen and that prepositional phrase is moderate is modifying when you were chosen
01:00:18: It's modifying the the verb of choose. So it's an adverb It says because god chose you as the first fruits to be saved in either case
01:00:30: The teaching is really simple So far we've looked at some deep theology and compared it to other passages
01:00:38: Wouldn't it be nice if we could just boil this down to something really simple right now The first point is about choice
01:00:45: No matter how you slice it Here's what the bible says and here's what's at stake
01:00:51: What's at stake is clarity? The doctrine of perspicuity that when the scripture speaks
01:00:58: God speaks clearly right If this word choice doesn't mean that he chooses we're in trouble
01:01:05: But the simple thing that it says right here is that god chose you
01:01:14: You have a problem with that you don't have a problem with me you have a problem with that Right that word chose is helato in the greek.
01:01:23: It comes from areo. It's only used two places in the new testament It always means to pick To pick out of the other place.
01:01:30: It's used as philippians 1 22 Where paul is saying he had just said in 121 for to me to live as christ to die as gain
01:01:39: And he goes on to say but what would I choose? What would I pick to go on living in the flesh is better for you because that means fruitful labor
01:01:48: But to die and be with christ is better for me And he has these things in the balance and he asked the question which thing will
01:01:54: I helato which would I choose? Paul is thinking Which would I pick and ultimately he says which one?
01:02:02: I'd rather remain because that's better for you, right? But the point is the word means pick or choose
01:02:11: Which would paul pick in philippians 1 and in the context of our verse right here, what does it say?
01:02:21: God picked you God chose you
01:02:27: So the first big point is actually a really simple one As hard as it is for us mere men mere mortals to get our minds around Remember You did not choose him.
01:02:39: No, he has chosen you Okay. Well that leaves us at kind of an awkward spot, right?
01:02:48: Because well, then why should we even go preach the gospel? God's gonna save whomever he will
01:02:58: Why should we even preach? That would be a philosophical question in response to a biblical
01:03:04: Statement, right? But it's one that comes up in our mind. Here's the answer God ordains the means as well as the ends
01:03:15: We're not god we don't know the identity of the elect We don't see the world from his perspective.
01:03:22: We're called to be here and do what he tells us to do And there's a certain means by which he saves and that means is the preaching of the gospel
01:03:31: And god has ordained. He has commanded that we go preach. He's also ordained who will respond
01:03:38: You don't believe that well look in the text It says in verse 13 the last part the means that word through Means means
01:03:50: Just like if I build a tree fort with my son I'll use tools a chop saw and a hammer or nail gun
01:04:02: Those tools are the means by which the building is done There are means by which god saves people the preaching of the gospel
01:04:13: But here there are two things mentioned at the end of verse 13. The first is sanctification by the spirit
01:04:21: And the second is belief in the truth Salvation comes by these means
01:04:29: Faith is another word for here pistis belief in the truth Faith is the means by which god credits righteousness to the sinner
01:04:41: When you're believing in christ you become united to him
01:04:47: And his righteousness is credited to you and that faith is what god sees as Righteous you're credited with righteousness on account of faith.
01:04:59: It's a means that god uses but notice here It's only a means and in fact notice there's something that comes before it not after what is that?
01:05:09: in the text the first thing listed is Sanctification by the spirit
01:05:16: Now whenever we hear the word sanctification we start to think about the theological category that theologians have built
01:05:24: Sanctification normally refers to that process Of being conformed into the image of christ
01:05:30: After you get saved You get sanctified That's a theological category and it's not wrong.
01:05:37: You can use sanctification that way, but it's not how paul is using it here. Is he? He's using it as the means by which we're saved and he lists it before faith
01:05:50: So what is it it's being set apart for the truth It's being set apart by the spirit to believe the truth
01:06:00: It's an inward work of the spirit of the living god He makes you something inwardly that you couldn't do for yourself.
01:06:09: Here's the problem church. Listen You were dead in your trespasses and sins. You were blind you were deaf
01:06:18: You Couldn't respond to the gospel call Until sanctification by the spirit happened to you
01:06:29: If you doubt me read first thessalonians 1 4 when he tells you Why you were chosen or how you know?
01:06:36: You were chosen And he goes on to say that the gospel came to you not just with mere words, but with conviction
01:06:45: And power and the holy spirit and so you believed you received with joy
01:06:53: Here's the theological meaning of what i'm saying to you The gospel will go out into the world
01:06:59: As it does every day some preaching at the abortion clinic others at the parks. We have people here who have who have come even today
01:07:07: Because of the the gospel going out right listen That's the outward call
01:07:13: But no one will believe without the inward call There must be the gospel spoken
01:07:23: But also power the holy spirit conviction In order for a person to receive it first thessalonians 1 5 and 6
01:07:35: There must be this sanctification by the spirit Along with belief in the truth.
01:07:41: The belief would not come from you. What makes me different? Than the guy at the board of education
01:07:49: Why is it that i've believed and he hasn't there was nothing in me It was that he took these blind eyes
01:07:59: And he let them see second corinthians 4 4 It was that he took these stopped up ears
01:08:06: And he let me hear It said he took this heart of stone And he sanctified it by the spirit regeneration comes prior to faith
01:08:16: Not in time But in logical order and in our text
01:08:24: You see it there guys. I know we're digging deep, but this is ballast for your ship and you'll see why at the end Look what it says
01:08:31: Through sanctification by the spirit. That's how you got saved according to the bible
01:08:38: That it says right prior to it to be saved And the means is sanctification by the spirit that's the spirit's inward work in you
01:08:46: If we had time we'd go now to romans chapter 8 verses 29 and 30 It says the same thing
01:08:54: Those whom he foreknew he also predestined And those whom he predestined he also called and those whom he called he also justified and those whom he justified he also glorified
01:09:08: The golden chain of redemption is unbreakable It's god who's doing each of these it's he who calls
01:09:16: That if that effectual call is a theme traced from romans 8 all the way through romans 9
01:09:23: This is the word of the living god lastly
01:09:30: If you look at verse 14, we see the end This is the end to which we are called
01:09:40: To this He called you That's that effectual calling of romans 8 29 and 30
01:09:48: Through our gospel the gospel is an outward means it's this message this glorious message that jesus died and rose
01:09:57: He was crucified for our sins and he rose on the third day. That's the gospel
01:10:03: That believing in that your sins will be forgiven. You will be granted eternal life When you repent and believe that's the gospel
01:10:11: But it's a means By which he calls you Here's the end
01:10:17: Very important so that You may obtain the glory of our lord jesus christ
01:10:28: That's glorification The last link in the golden chain of romans 8 30
01:10:36: Glorification Means to be made like the one that you love
01:10:43: Jesus christ at glorification You no longer have a sin nature
01:10:50: Which means you're truly free The free will the man who's genuinely free and not a slave to sin
01:10:59: Is the one who no longer even has a desire and affection james 1 14 and 15 for sin
01:11:07: But has been set free of that has been made like the one he beholds This is deep theology, but think about it
01:11:15: The end for which he saves you is that for eternity you will behold his glory with great joy
01:11:23: And beholding that glory you will share in his glory for you will be like him
01:11:30: You become like the one you see He's saving you toward this end
01:11:37: That for all eternity you will be a people for his own possession And he will receive the glory by how you look at him and marvel at him first thessalonians 1 10
01:11:49: We're waiting for him to marvel and delight In beholding his glory
01:11:57: That's actually a really crazy thought when you think about it We were made to see him
01:12:06: And seeing him to be like him Glorification That is the final end to which you are saved because the whole reason you exist
01:12:17: Is to glorify god And enjoy him forever There are those according to romans 9 who will like an ignoble vessel glorify him in judgment
01:12:28: That god will be displaying His power and judgment in their condemnation
01:12:34: As he says in second thessalonians 1 I mean chapter 2 verse 12
01:12:41: In their condemnation God will be glorified Because he'll display his justice and power in judgment on that which opposes him
01:12:52: But you but you verse 13 but You were created
01:13:01: For glory Title of my sermon is chosen for glory
01:13:08: That's what the text says and being aware
01:13:14: That he will pass others over according to romans 9 shows to the vessel of mercy
01:13:22: How much he specially loved you? Because there was nothing different in you that made him choose you choice
01:13:34: It's god's choice. Not yours. It's what the word. Hey lotto means means Through sanctification of the spirit and belief in the truth.
01:13:43: It has to be an inward call as well as an outward call ends You were chosen for glory and so in closing
01:13:54: I remember last week. Somebody asked me. Well, why does this even matter doesn't seem real practical I don't really know
01:14:02: You could break this way break that way some theologians great theologians think this and others think that Why does this even matter?
01:14:09: I want to tell you this doctrine is one of the most important practical doctrines you will ever believe
01:14:17: I tell you that as i've come to trust in these promises and understand it My heart for years has been peace like a river
01:14:27: Even in suffering i've endured suffering And due to this day But he keeps my heart at peace
01:14:35: Because I know he's in control a high view of god Will grant you ballast in the ship
01:14:45: Some people are troubled like waters And you see that in the lost and the perishing
01:14:53: But christian this is your hope of a stable life even in the midst of pain rejoice always
01:15:05: Pray without ceasing Give thanks in everything for this is the will of god in christ jesus for you
01:15:15: My wife Went to hobby lobby And bought a plaque
01:15:21: With those words on it and hung it right by the front door That's what women do by the way, they they they should nest and make a home beautiful That's a good and godly role for a woman
01:15:34: As guys go out and hunt and gather There's there's a difference between how god made men and women but the reason
01:15:40: I bring up hobby lobby and i'm so specific here Is because I would encourage all of you to buy that plaque
01:15:49: If not that one then get another one somehow But those verses first thessalonians 5 16 to 18
01:15:58: Are god's will for you? And when you come to this high view of god you'll be able to do that until you do
01:16:06: Your heart will be more turbulent than it needs to be When you come to rest listen if he chose you will he keep you?
01:16:16: You have nothing to fear You're secure in him And that's the ballast in the ship
01:16:21: It's the strength of the heart that knows god and knows that you are beloved of him
01:16:27: And resting in his sovereignty That's the ballast in the ship. I close with the poem
01:16:34: By a guy who used to be one of my favorites, but he's kind of stepped in it a little bit recently
01:16:40: But you know what I still love this poem john piper I love this poem. So i'm just gonna read it anyway
01:16:47: Can I do that? All right. Listen, it's it's a little bit long, but I want you to think about the words here because it's a picture of all of life
01:16:59: There are some people that live constantly turbulent But the poem is called the calvinist
01:17:09: The poem is called the calvinist. You can look it up on desiringgod .org print it put it on your wall
01:17:16: Because this is the picture Of a man with a high view of god and how he lives his life and how he loves his children
01:17:24: And how he loves his wife and how he sleeps and how he eats. Let me just read it
01:17:30: See him on his knees Hear his constant pleas Heart of every aim
01:17:38: Hallowed be your name See him in the word Helpless cool unstirred
01:17:46: Heaping on the pyre heed until the fire See him with his books
01:17:55: Tree beside the brooks Drinking at the root Till the branch bear fruit
01:18:04: See him with his pen written line and then better thought preferred
01:18:10: Deep from in the word See him in the square Kept from subtle snare
01:18:19: Unrelenting sleuth on the scent of truth See him on the street seeking to entreat meek and treasuring.
01:18:30: Do you know my king? See him in dispute firm and resolute driven by the fame of his father's name
01:18:42: See him at his trade Done. The plan is made Men will have his skills if the father wills
01:18:52: See him at his meal Praying now to feel thanks and be it graced
01:18:59: God in every taste See him with his child Has he ever smiled?
01:19:07: Such a smile before playing on the floor See him with his wife
01:19:14: Parable for life In this sacred scene. She is heaven's queen
01:19:21: See him stray he groans One is true he owns
01:19:28: What is left to me? Fallibility See him in lament
01:19:36: Should I now repent? Yes, and then proclaim all is for my fame
01:19:42: See him worshiping Watch the sinner sing Spared the burning flood only by the blood
01:19:51: See him on the shore Whence this ocean store From your god above Thimble full of love
01:20:02: See him now asleep Watch the helpless reap But no credit take
01:20:08: Just as when awake See him nearing death Listen to his breath
01:20:17: Through the ebbing pain final whisper gain
01:20:23: Let's pray Father teach us to trust In your plan not in ourselves
01:20:33: Teach us lord to never take credit For what you have done in us
01:20:41: I pray that you would make this people sure and strong in your word That we would take you at your word
01:20:48: And not fight against it Thank you god for saving us
01:20:57: Thank you for sending the gospel to us And so working in our hearts
01:21:06: That we would believe I pray that you would make your people strong as persecution begins to mount and we're demonized in the public square
01:21:15: Called christian nationalists And not worthy of attention
01:21:22: Told to be silent and sit down Lord, I pray that we would trust in you
01:21:29: And have no fear Many live as enemies of the cross of christ their destiny is destruction their god is their stomach their glory
01:21:40: Is in their shame Their mind is on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven
01:21:47: And we eagerly await a savior from there the lord jesus christ in whose name we pray.
01:21:53: Amen Let's all stand what gift of grace is jesus my redeemer
01:22:13: There is no more For heaven now to give
01:22:20: He is my joy My righteousness and freedom
01:22:28: My steadfast love my deep and boundless My hope is only jesus
01:22:46: Bound to his Oh how strange and divine
01:22:53: I can sing all is mine The night is dark
01:23:06: But I am not forsaken For by my side
01:23:13: My savior he will stay I labor on In weakness and rejoicing
01:23:24: For in my need his power is displayed
01:23:31: To this I hope my shepherd will defend me
01:23:39: Through the deepest valley He will lead
01:23:46: Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
01:23:53: Yet not I but through christ in me
01:24:00: No fate I dread I know I am forgiven
01:24:07: The future sure The price here has been paid
01:24:14: For jesus died And suffered for my pardon
01:24:21: And he was raised to overthrow the grave
01:24:28: To this I hold My sin has been defeated
01:24:36: Jesus now And ever is my plea
01:24:42: Oh the chains are released I can sing
01:24:48: I am free yet not I With every breath
01:24:59: I long to follow Jesus For he has said
01:25:06: That he will bring me home And day by day
01:25:13: I know he will renew me To this
01:25:25: I hope my hope is only jesus All the glory
01:25:36: Is When the race
01:26:06: Yet not Now may the god of peace himself
01:26:22: Sanctify you completely And may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our lord jesus christ
01:26:33: He who calls you is faithful He will surely do it.