Memorial Service

Introduction

Good evening to all especially to Dizon family. It’s my privilege to bring the encouragement to the family and to all of you.

We’re gathered here this evening not only to celebrate her life but also her faith in God which is the more important above all. I’ve known Mommy Leonor since 2004 as she is a faithful member of Living Hope Christian Church. I believe that she wants this service more of God and less of her.

What Tony read is actually a will that speaks of “inheritance.” Mommy Leonor’s inheritance in relation to her faith in God. Allow me to make some observations:

(ESV)

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

4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

I. Obviously, this is the reading of God’s will.

II. The focus of God’s will is inheritance

III. Of course, as with the reading of any will, we must ask two questions:

A. Who was named in the will?

B. What was he inheritance?

IV. As I look at the text of the will, I find these named:

A. In the first few lines of the will, those named are referred to as “us.”

B. Later, this same group becomes more specific, when they are described as :

“chosen”; “predestines”

“those who put their hope in Christ”

“adopted as sons”

C. So, those named in this will are the “adopted children of God”

This is not Mommy Leonor’s will but what received in relation to her faith in God.

D. How did they become children of God?

1. As the will explains,

(ESV)

13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Eph

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

2. To say it more in our own words, for people to receive this inheritance, they have to put their faith in Jesus Christ as their only Saviour and Lord. He must be the only object of their hope. He saves them for the penalty of sins, which the Bible tell us is “eternal separation from God and damnation”

E. This inheritance begins with a sealed relationship with God.

The basis of this relationship is Jesus Christ death and resurrection.

he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

F. That’s how we know that Mommy Leonor is named in this will.

She placed her hope in Christ and was sealed for an inheritance. Today, she is enjoying er first taste of that inheritance.

G. The truth of the matter is that I read only a brief portion of this will. The Bible is the written will of God.

H. What, then does it tell us about the inheritance