Eulogy of Praise pt.2
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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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
ESV4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Some of the great themes Paul is going pointing to in these verses are:
God’s sovereign election
Our position before him as holy and blameless
Our adoption as sons
So this morning we want to travel into the into the great forest of redemption and explore what it means that God chose us before the foundation of the world.
We want to discover what it means to be holy and blameless before him
And finally what it means to be adopted as sons
In the same way theologically speaking we are all the bride of Christ (both men and women)
Pray…
The beginning of verse four says
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Eph 1.4
“even as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”
This is a great mystery of God, that he would chose some to be his people before the foundation of the world
This means that you who are here this morning who have faith in Christ, were in the mind of God before he created the world.
So this morning we are going to look at:
Election and predestination
This doctrine of election and predestination is one that gives many Christians great consternation.
Yet Paul says that God’s choosing and predestining is something that should lead us to worship.
For Paul begins this sentence with “blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”
who has done all these great things for us, he has blessed, us he has lavished his grace upon us, he has adopted us and so on.
in all of these beautiful truths we see why we should praise him, yet when it comes to his electing and predestining us we often become uncomfortable. as if this is something we should not be thankful for.
I remember as a youth pastor in Colorado I worked for a pastor who stood strongly opposed to the idea of God’s electing grace. And he told me that he could never worship a God who would chose some and not others for salvation.
Now, the idea of God’s sovereign will is indeed mysterious, and not easy to understand, but that does not mean we should reject the idea just because it may not make sense to us.
And here is the problem with rejecting the idea of God’s election, it is not that we are rejecting a theological construct, but we are rejecting a main theme in God’s work throughout history. The story of the bible is largely about God choosing for himself a people.
When the people of the world were completely corrupt, where the thoughts and actions of men were continuously wicked, God chose for himself Noah and saved Noah and his family
After the flood and Babel God determined to create a new people, and he chose for himself a pagan priest named Abram.
From there we see God choosing
Isaac not Ishmael
Jacob Not Esau
He chose Israel not the Canaanites
He chose David not his seven brothers
Even the disciples, Jesus chose his twelve, they did not choose him.
Paul himself was knocked off his horse and blinded by God’s calling on his life.
So if we reject the idea of God’s electing and predestinating work, we also reject much of the bible,
for the bible is all about God chosing that which was dead and making it alive.
Death and resurrection is also one of the great themes of the bible.
And church, before God saved you, you were spiritually dead.
You were not spiritually sick, you were not in a coma, you were not just spiritually ill.
But you were spiritually dead
And dead people cannot bring themselves back to life.
Jesus himself didn’t even bring himself back to life, but rather God raised him from the dead.
And so we also, were dead in our trespasses and sins, and he (he that is God) has made us alive together with Christ.
We were dead in our trespasses and sins, and he has made us alive together with Christ.
And this powerful work of God’s grace, his choosing to save us should lead us not to refuse him, but rather should cause us to burst out in praise for if he did not choose us we would still be dead in our sins.
So coming back to our text in eph 1.4
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Now, this work of God choosing us in Christ is not just some random decree that says that those whom God has chosen get go to heaven. But rather, we are chosen in Christ for a purpose. And the purpose is far more than just going to heaven when you die.
So in our passage this morning, what is God choosing us for?
That we should be holy and blameless before him.
Holy and Blameless
Holy and Blameless
Now what does it mean to be holy? what does it mean to be blameless?
To be holy is most often understood as being morally good, pure, upright.
We abstract this idea of holiness from the bible and view it is something is is above our beyond our human experience and to be a good Christian is to try and take hold of this thing called holiness and apply it to our lives here and now.
This idea of holiness is really not helpful. because it becomes so subjective and airy.
To be holy is not a moral scale - but rather its a declaration
However, the bible tells us what it is to be holy over and over again.
To be holy is to be given access into the sanctuary of God. To be given access into his presence. To stand before God you must be holy.
over and over again. To be holy is to be given access into the sanctuary of God. To be given access into his presence. To stand before God you must be holy. And this holy status is not something we can earn, no amount of tithing, or fasting, or good works will earn you the right to stand int he presence of God - you can do nothing to earn or gain holiness. Do you remember the vision of Joshua the High Priest in ? The vision starts with Zechariah seeing a high priest named Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord (preincarnate Jesus) and Satan standing next to him. Look with me at verse 1
talks about the holy anointing oil.
God tells Moses to follow a special recipe that included some myrrh, some cinnamon, some cane, some olive oil and other spices and gave him instructions on how to make this oil.
once it was made God told Moses to than anointed or drip some of this oil on all the furniture of the tabernacle, from the ark to the utensils
And when he did this everything that was anointed became holy. They were allowed to be in the presence of God.
And he tells him to anoint Aaron and his sons so they might come in as priests and stand as holy before God.
A few months back i was wondering what the tabernacle would have smelled like, so i look on Amazon for some oil that followed the instructions of
Reviews:
smelled like heaven
And there were a few one star reviews that were warning people not to buy it because if you touch it you would be cut off from the people of God.
do not buy or you will be cursed.
And this holy status is not something we can earn, no amount of tithing, or fasting, or good works will earn you the right to stand in the presence of God - you can do nothing to earn or gain holiness.
Holiness is not a moral condition, but an anointed position before God
Do you remember the vision of Joshua the High Priest in ?
The vision starts with Zechariah seeing a high priest named Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord (preincarnate Jesus) and Satan standing next to him. Look with me at verse 1
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
ESV1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
Satan is looking to accuse or blame Joshua.
Yet the Lord does not remain silent but turns his focus to Satan and says,
2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”
ESV2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”
In the same way that God chose us before the foundations of the world to be holy and blameless so he has chosen Jerusalem (which represents God covenant people)
He has plucked us from the fire, there is nothing about us, nor was their anything about Jerusalem that would allow us to stand in the presence of God.
There is nothing we have done nor could do that would gain us the ability to stand in the presence of God. Apart from him plucking us from the fire we would remain condemned in that fire.
In fact, verse 3 illustrates this point well
3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.
ESV3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.
Joshua stood before God with filthy garments
These filthy garments represented the depravity of Joshua.
He was presented before God based off of no merit of his own, but he was there because God chose him to be there.
And what does God do to Joshua?
Look at verse 4
4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
ESV4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
God removed his filthy garments, And clothed him with pure vestments
God removed his filthy garments, And clothed him with pure vestments
Thus Joshua was made holy.
Because of what God had done for him he was given the right to stand in God’s presence.
Joshua did nothing in this vision, he was acted upon.
He did not earn this holy status
This is what Christ has done for us!
ESV4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
He chose us before the world was even created
God determined to pluck you out of the fire
And he not only plucked you out of the fire, but he removed your filthy rags
your iniquities were taken from you and laid upon Christ. So that you should be holy and blameless before him.
We are now clothed in the pure vestments of Christ.
We have been given access into the presence of God as a holy and blameless people.
Not because of anything we have done, but because of what was done for us!
This phrase shows up
And we should praise God for this! (BLESSED BE GOD v.3)
If our holy standing before Christ was based on our ability to be morally pure enough, pleasing enough, to be accepted by Christ we would have no hope.
If God had not determined to save us, we would be left in the fire, we would drown in the quagmire of our depravity.
If God had not determined to save us before the foundations of the world, we would have no hope, for we are nothing but men and women clothed in filthy garments.
Yet, because of what God has done in Christ, we we stand holy and blameless before him.
And for this Paul is telling us to praise God!
Not only did God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless, but he also predestined us for adoption as sons.
Adoption as Sons
Adoption as Sons
in love..
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Notice Paul says that it is IN LOVE that he predestined us to adoption of sons.
The predestining work of God is not one of cold decrees, but rather his predestining coming from the heart of God, for in love he has predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ.
The power of the notion is best understood by those who have been close to the adoption process.
You know, we can look at all sorts of different doctrines in the bible that help explain our relationship with God. And these doctrines are glorious and when we understand them we should respond in worship and praise.
You know, we can look at all sorts of different doctrines in the bible that help explain our relationship with God. And these doctrines are glorious and when we understand them we should respond in worship and praise.
Justification
And this place of belonging was best seen in the Garden of Eden.
Before the fall, Adam and Eve belonged to and with God. They could come close to him, embrace him, eat with him, and be provided for by him.
Redemption
However, after the fall Adam and Eve were sent out of the garden, out of the presence of God.
Sanctification
Propitiation
These doctrines are amazing and wonderful, but adoption is the apex, the high point in our relationship with God.
Adoption gets to the very core of who we are and how we were created. God created us as beings who need to belong.
The need for belonging is one of the greatest in the human soul. And God’s adoption speaks to this need for belonging
Adoption is Belonging
Adoption is Belonging
The kids were playing and having a good time. And then things began to unravel…
One of the main reasons God gave Even to Adam is because Adam didn’t have anyone he belonged with like the animals had.
So God laid Adam down in deep sleep took out one of his ribs and formed Eve and brought her to him and presented her to him - as a gift.
Adams responds by saying, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;”
23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Eve belonged to Adam and Adam belonged to eve.
Today, we continue to have great great need to to belong, and a great fear of not belonging.
If you are visiting today you may have had, as I have had with every church i have ever visited, a fear or nervousness as to whether or not you will belong.
Kids from the youngest ages will fuss and cry if a stranger holds them because there is a sense of not belonging
Middle school and high school social drama so often boils down to insecurities about belonging.
You will feel this same tension of belonging when
you start a new job
start a new relationship
meet the future in-laws for the first time
are invited over to someone’s house for the first time.
The desire to fit in, to be totally accepted, embraced, and comfortable is built into the very fabric of our being.
EXAMPLE**
I remember a child going to friends houses there was always a feeling of not belonging that after a while became very uncomfortable.
The house smelled different than mine
the food was cooked different
My friend’s mom and dad were great people, but they were not my mom and dad
And there was always a time, sooner or later, that would have to leave and go to my home.
There was never a sense of permanence, therefore there could never be a sense of true belonging.
Even though I never felt unsafe, there was always a reality that I didn’t belong there. I belonged at my house. with my family. with my food, with my bed and my clothes.
And I was never concerned that I would be sent away, no matter what happened, I knew i belonged at home.
Its fun to observe this with my own kids
Forgot swimming suit at a friends birthday party, he was very uncomfortable to wear his friends suit
Piper, if we are at a new place where she does not feel like she completely belongs, will ask me to go with her to do everything… if she needs a glass of water she’ll ask if i will go with her to get it.
There is something about taking food or drinks from someone else house that can make you feel uncomfortable.
But when the kids are at home, they have no problem wearing their own clothes, getting their own drinks, eating their own food and so on. Because when they are at home, they belong.
I’m sure you can relate to this as well
When spend time at someone else’s house, no matter how hospitable, there is a difference than being at your house.
The cups you drink from are not your cups
the chairs you sit on are not your chairs
the space that you exist in is not your space
There is, even for adults, a feeling of not belonging.
But when you’re home, you don’t even think about the cups, the food, the chairs or the space, because you are at your home, you completely in every way belong at your home.
When God called you into his presence, he did not call you as guests, he did not call you as servants, he did not call you to come and visit.
He called you to himself as a Son. As a child. As a family member. He has called you to himself so that you might find, for the first time, what true belonging is really like.
He has brought you near, he has given you a seat at his table, he has made a bed for you, and the food you eat is the food you eat with family.
his food is your food
his peace is your peace
his joy is your joy
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his love is your love
and his name is now your name, for you are in Christ.
And as a son, you can go to your heavenly father with full confidence that he will never send you away, he will never tell you its time to go home. For you are home with him.
You have the privilege to ask him for all the blessings he has to give.
When you pray, you pray to your father.
When you pray, you pray to your father.
You can pray with confidence that he will listen, he listens to his children, and have confidence that he will do what is best for you.
Ask him for peace, and he responds by saying, “of course, you can have all the peace you need, for you are my son.
Ask him for wisdom, and he will pull you close and teach you wisdom
WHen you read your bible, read it as a son.
From genesis to revelation the bible is your fathers words to you. Read it not as an outsider, but read it as a love letter from your father.
When you go to church
you got to church as a Son of God, this is where you belong. This is your family, this is your home, this is where siblings laugh, fight, pray, weep, rejoice, and play.
And this is where we gather around the table with our father and he feeds us.
Church God has not only called you into his presence, made you holy and blameless, but he also adopted you as sons. Sons who have full access and privilege to all that God has.
You are not a servant, but a son.
Church, this is what God has done for you in Christ.
As Paul says....
In love...
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Your identity is not one of outsider, or guest, but you are at your core, a Son of God.
God has chosen you, in Christ, before the foundation of the world to be
holy and blameless,
to be adopted as sons
A son who has
And he did all of it for his own good pleasure, according to the purpose of his will.
And now we should respond in praise due to his glorious grace with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
He has in Christ given you new garments, he has removed your filthy rags and has clothed you in the righteousness of Christ.
Reading God’s word as a Son
He has silenced the screams of the accuser who would see you blamed for your sin
Being around God’s children as a Son
And in love he has brought you into his sanctuary as a holy and blameless son, adopted into his family.
being adopted as son
Praying as Son
Communion as a Son
being chosen before the foundation
This is who you are. You are a son of God.
Lets pray.
Owen got his clothes all wet and we didn’t bring a change of clothes with us, so his friend offered to let him where is clothes… and Owen was very uncomfortable with that.
Then dinner came around, and Piper didn’t want to eat the food, not because it didn’t taste good, but she was in one of those moods where it was uncomfortable because it wasn’t our food.
There is no higher privilege than to be adopted into God’s family as sons.
amazing and wonderful, but adoption is the apex, the high point in our relationship with God
Wearing friends clothes
sleeping at friends house
eating food as someone else's house
using the bathroom at someone else's house
etc.
The reason for these insecurites is because they don’t feel comfortable, they don’t have a sense of belonging.
God i